IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Corporation 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WIB3TE!i  rfY.  14580 

(716)  «72-4503 


^f^ 

> 


'^'f^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


O' 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Note*  techniques  et  bibliographiquet 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliogrephlcally  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checlced  below. 


0 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


I     I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


n 


n 


D 


Couverture  endommagAe 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  at/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


|~~|    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gAographiques  en  couieur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  biacic)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bieue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 


Bound  with  other  materiel/ 
Reii6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrie  peut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  ia 
distortion  is  long  de  ia  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^os 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  iorsque  ceia  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  At*  filmAas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  dAtails 
de  cet  exempleire  qui  sent  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m*thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couieur 

□   Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag*es 

p~|   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


Pages  restaur*es  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxet 
Pages  d*color*es,  tachet*es  ou  piquAes 

Pagas  detached/ 
Pages  d*tach*es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiit*  in*gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materli 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Adition  disponible 


r^  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

r~1   Pagas  detached/ 

r~T/  Showthrough/ 

I      I   Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I   includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totelement  ou  partieiiement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiiiet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fagon  A 
obtenir  ia  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  Item  is  filmcJ  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rAduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

/2X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 


L'exempiaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  'oin.  compte  tonu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  l'exempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  fast  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ►  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmto  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^ 


■IP 


*- 


\ih^m 


l^EY. 


'^. 


THE 


Iflfq  JDOl^pi^JD,  ©.©. 


.  ^]Hf)l?EW^'S   CHUI7CH, 


§T.  ^QMI),  If.  B. 


of  Hlfi  I^lfe  ai:>Qt  CJiaracter,  Prepaired 
or  I^Hv ate  Clrculatioii. 


*  ( 

•  'I 

i 


{ 


/  I  c 
T  -  / 


THE 


1 


REV.  WILLIAM  DONALD,  D.  D. 


OF  ST.  ANDREW'S  CHURCH, 


ST.  JOHN.  N.  B. 


A  Sketcli  of  His  Life  and  Character.  Prepared  for 


Private  Circulation. 


/ 


^.^? 

..e.^ 


18'.>S 


NOTE. 


Tht'  I'ollowinij  sketch  of  the  lift-  ami  tiiiirs  of  I't'v 
William  Donaltl.  I).  I>.,  Iiiis  been  incpun'd  Ity  Mr.  W.  K. 
Reynolds,  of  St.  .loliii,  N.  H.,  nieinlter  of  the  New  Hniiiswit-k 
llistoriciil  Sofiety :  from  sm-li  data  as  was  aceessibl''.  Apart 
from  rlic  writer's  personal  knowledije  of  St.  .lolin  and  its 
history,  information  of  value  was  supplied  hy  prominent 
niemhers  of  the  eon^jrejjation  of  St.  Andrew's  <'hnreh, 
ineliidinj;  His  Honor  .ludjie  .lames  (Jordon  Forbes  and  Hon. 
Robert  Marshall.  Others  who  liatl  bwn  ac(piainted  with  Dr. 
Donald  aided  willingly  when  applied  to  for  information. 
Other  sources  of  ktiowledge  were  the  tiles  of  city  newspapers 
and  other  contemporaneous  records.  At  the  best,  however,  it 
is  felt  that  there  is  much  more  abotit  Dr.  Donald,  his  jtersonal 
(•haracteristics  and  his  work,  which  has  not  been  (»biained 
and  whicli  it  is  desirable  shmtld  be  made  a  matter  of  record 
in  these  pajj;es.  With  this  idea,  tlu;  present  edition  of  the 
Sketch  is  issued  for  private  circiMation,  in  the  hope  that 
many  who  can  supi)ly  further  facts  will  be  induced  to  do  so. 
Whatever  may  be  known  of  Dr.  Donald  and  his  wctrk,  in 
addition  to  what  has  already  been  gathered,  will  be  very 
gladly  received,  whetlier  it  be  in  the  way  of  further  facts 
illustrative  anecdotes  or  dill'erent  versions  of  matters  wliidi 
have  already  been  treated  in  this  Sketch.  In  other  words, 
anything  bearing  on  the  subject  will  be  very  welcome,  no 
matter  in  how  crude  a  shape  it  may  be  supplied.  Facts  are 
what  are  wanted,  that  they  may  b«  incorporated  in  a  later 
edition  of  the  book.  Those  who  lan  supply  any  such  infor- 
mation will  greatly  oblige  the  family  of  Dr.  Donald  and 
render  material  aid  in  what,  it  is  hoped,  will  i)e  a  work 
of  historic  value  in  relation  to  St.  Andrew's  Church 
and  the  city  of  St.  .lohn.  Please  address  Louis  Donald, 
P.  ().  Box  12.'),  Mobile,  Alabama. 


1^1 


■~7 


REV.  WILLIAM  DONALD,  D.  D. 


I. 


(Jld  Sr.  Atulrew's  Clmrcli.— The  Karly  Pn'sliytfriMiK  in  St. 
.Idlm. — Fitnuer  Pastors. — Soiik!  Timo-H<»non'(l  .\  .nu>s. - 
An  Iiillucntiiil  Conjifrefjation. 

WiiHN  llic  lire  oi  tlu'  20tli  >♦'  .Juno.  '  ■  T,  sue))! 
jiWM.v  '■'.]'■<',■  sixlt'cii  hundred  ltiiildin<^s  in  Ihc  •-'•utli- 
f'n  p.'irl  of  Ilic  city  of  St.  ,Ioliri,  New  lU tin- wick, 
it  ('tlsu'od  ninny  of  tlic  most  clicrishtMl  limdm.iriis 
which  had  stood  since  the  diiys  of  the  Loyalists 
who  founded  the  city,  tmd  which  the  hand  of  man 
wouhl  have  heen  rehiclant  to  (k'Hiolisli  to  make 
way  for  a  new  order  of  thin<>s.  Amono-  tiiest' 
was  St.  Andi-ew*>  Church,  .the  tirst  and  oldest 
Presbyterian  cliiirch  in  the  province  of  New 
Brunswii'k.  and  for  more  than  three-score  years 
the  |)!ace  of  worship  for  hundreds  who  had  left 
the  Land  of  the  Heather  to  seek  their  fortunes  in 
this  corner  of  (ireater  IJritain. 

A 


'riic  Cliuivh  had  miu-li  in  its  history  to  eiidoar 
it  to  rresliylcrians  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
Those  of  this  faith  who  were  amon.ir  the  Loyalists 
Avho  founded  St.  doiin,  in  lTs;5,  luid  early  trjven 
their  atteidion  to  the  siiliject  of  erectinjr  a  plaee 
of  worsiiip.  in  the  year  foUowino-  their  arrival, 
a  <»rant  of  land  was  issued  to  certain  trustees  for 
this  purpose,  hut  as  the  location  was  not  deemed 
central,  it  was  not  until  the  year  ISl.^  that 
another  site  was  secured  and  the  church  was  built. 
It  is  an  od<l  coinci<lence  that  the  date  of  the  deed 
of  the  land  was  the  2(»th  of  June— the  day  on 
which,  sixty-two  years  later,  the  edifice  was  to 
vanish  in  a  whirlwind  of  tire. 

The  leadino-  men  aniona"  tlie  early  Presl)y- 
terians  in  St.  John  were  [)ersons  of  note  in  the 
history  of  the  <ity.  and  the  recor<ls  of  the  conffre- 
oation  show  that  they  had  ecpially  noteworthy 
successors  at  later  periods.  In  the  lists  of  trus- 
tees, from  ye!ir  to  year,  are  found  the  names  of 
those  intimately  associated  with  the  commercial 
and  social  advancement  of  the  community,  and 
representino;  the  most  solid  interests  of  the  city 
of  their  adoption.  Fhe  coiiirreiralion  of  the  church 
was  a  tine  one,  and  it  demanded  pastors  worthy 
of  the  people. 


I 

1 


Y  to  eiidoar 
the  world. 
le  Loyalists 
3{irly  <ji;ivon 
iiij:  a  place 
eir  arri\al, 
trustees  for 
not  deemed 
Ism  that 
li  was  built, 
of  the  deed 
the  day  on 
tioe    was  to 

ly  Presl)y- 
lote    ill    the 

the  eoiiofre- 

note  worthy 
its  of  trus- 
e    names   of 

eoniniereial 
iiunity,  and 
of  the  eity 
f  the  elnirch 
tors    worthy 


3 

In  this  respect,  it  was  fortunate  in  havinjr  its 
re(juirements  met.  When  the  huildinjr  was  com- 
pleted. Ilutrh  .lohnston,  seniv»r,  a  prominent 
citi/en,  went  to  Scotltind.  chartred  with  the  duty 
of  pro<'iiriiiir  a  suital>le  minister,  lie  fultilled  his 
trust  l>y  the  selection  of  Hev.  (Jeorire  Burns,  of 
Aherdeen.  who  was  later  widely  known  and  hon- 
ored by  all  classes  as  Hev.  Dr.  liurns.  His 
successors  between  JS8(l  and  1S41»,  were  likewise 
men  whose  mimes  are  tenderly  cherished,  but  the 
pastor  whose  name,  more  than  any  oth.'r,  has 
become  linked  with  the  story  of  the  arowth  and 
development  of  the  church  and  its  conofregation 
was  the  Rev.  \Villi;im  Donald.  Years  airo.  the 
writer  of  the  present  sketch  referred  to  Dr. 
Donald  in  words  which  may  now  lie  tittinirly  re- 
peated as  an  introduction  to  a  more  extended 
review  of  his  life  and  lal)ors.  It  was  then  said  of 
him  that  he  was  '"one  whose  name  will  loiijf  be 
revered  by  all  classes  and  all  creeds.  Foremost 
in  irood  works,  zealous  in  the  cause  of  his  Master, 
an  ardent  lover  of  all  that  pertaiiK<l  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  fellows.  Dr.  ^^'illialll  Donald  was  in 
the  hiofhest  sense  worthv  of  the  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held.  For  twenty-two  years  ln'  lal)ored 
successfully    anionir    his    people,    teachinu"    Ity    his 

A  3 


lofty  precept  and  pure  example  the  great  truths 
of  Christianity,  until  he  was  called  from  his 
labors  to  his  final  and  peaceful  rest.  A  worker 
in  the  cause  of  education,  humanity  and  religion— 
as  a  man,  a  mason,  and  a  servant  of  God— his 
actions  gained  him  the  esteem  of  the  rich  and 
those  of  high  estate,  while  his  charity  earned  him 
the  benedictions  of  the  poor  and  fallen.  In  the 
home  of  his  adoption  he  took  a  deep  and  kindly 
interest  in  all  that  advanced  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  his  death  left  a  gap  which  only 
the  death  of  such  a  man  could  leave."  * 

More  than  a  score  of  years  have  passed  since 
these  words  were  written,  yet  all  who  remember 
Dr.  Donald  will  bear  witness  that  the  language 
rci)rosents  at  this  day  the  feeling  of  those,  who 
recall  the  story  of  the  man  and  his  Work. 


*  St.  .rolin  Daily  Telct;raph,  April,  1876, 


The 


ex  if 

of  ] 

sud 

del 

mil] 

Fre 

be 

vac 

wit 

for 

mir 

den 

less 

woi 

for 

for 

one 


great  truths 
ed  from  his 
t.  A  worker 
md  religion — 

of  God — his 
the  rich  and 
;y  earned  him 
illen.  In  the 
sp  and  kindly 
-elfare  of  tlie 
)    which   only 

3  passed  since 
ho  remember 
the  language 
of  those,  who 
Work. 


II. 


The  Act  of  Secession  and  isorae  of  its  Results. — The  rurish 
Schooliiiuster  of  Huntly. — Furewell  to  Scotland. — Mr. 
Donald   Begins   his   Ministry  at   St.   Andrew's   Cliurch. 

When  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  came  into 
existence  under  the  Act  of  Secession  of  the  18th 
of  May,  1843,  the  Estal)li8hed  Church  suH'ered  a 
sudden  and  great  depletion  in  the  ranks  of  its 
clergy.  No  fewer  than  four  hundred  and  seventy 
ministers  resigned  their  livings  and  joined  the 
Free  Church,  leaving  that  number  of  pulpits  to 
be  tilled.  Not  only  was  it  necessary  that  the 
vacant  parishes  in  Scotland  should  be  supplied 
without  delay,  but  it  was  etpially  important  that, 
for  several  years  to  come,  the  ranks  of  the 
ministry  should  be  recruited  to  supply  the  natural 
demand  ax  Home  and  abroad.  In  some  countries, 
less  favored  with  educational  advantages,  this  task 
would  have  been  attended  with  grave  difficulties, 
for  the  Presbyterian  standard  of  ([ualitication 
for  candidates  was  then,  as  it  is  now,  a  high 
one.      Scotland,    however,   was  a   land  where  the 


6 


ediu-ation  of  the  poopk'  Imd  ]on<r  been  held  to  he 
a  matter  of  prime  importanc-o.  There  were  schools 
whic-h  were  models  of  their  time,  and  in  these 
schools  were  some  of  the  most  learned  of  school 
masters.  Many  of  these  teachers  needed  (mly  ji 
Divinity  course  to  (pialify  them  for  the  ministry, 
and  some  of  them  had  already  taken  that  course, 
but  wen-  not  ordained.  Thus  it  happened  thai 
the  teachers  of  that  day  became,  in  many  in- 
stances,   preachers   of  marked   al)ility   at   a   future 

period. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  at  the  time  of 
the  Act  of  Secession,  the  parish  clerk  and  paro- 
chial schoolmaster  of  the  thrivinof  district  of 
Huntly  had  little  thoutrht  of  beinof  ordained  to 
the  ministry,  nor  had  he  dreamed  that  his  life 
work  was  to  l>c  in  a  colony  beyond  the  seas. 
Had  there  l»een  no  Act  of  Secession,  it  is  possible 
he  would  have  live<l  and  died  content  with  his 
h()noral)le  and  ])eaceful  lot,  for  the  parish  school- 
master of  those  days  was  no  small  person  in  ;i 
comnumity.  lie  ranked  hut  little  helow  the  min- 
ister himself,  he  had  many  trusts  and  responsi- 
bilities, and  his  income  was  such  as  enahled  him 
to  live  in  comfort.  Huntly,  with  a  population  of 
between   2.000    and   3,000   people,    was  a  thriving 


an( 
thi 
we 
sta 

at 
a   I 
wa 
ph 
he; 

is; 
M 

foi 
dr. 
coi 
we 
IX 
fri 
hi^ 
tin 
an 
ha 
ha 
vo 

Ik 


sen  held  to  be 
'e  were  schools 
and  in  tliese 
L'ned  of  seliool 
needed  only  ji 
I-  the  ministry. 
[?n  that  course, 
happened  thai 
.  in  many  in 
by   at   a   future 

at  the  time  ot 
'lerk  an<l  paro- 
ig  district  of 
Iff    ordained    to 

I  that  his  life 
^ond  the  seas. 
I,  it  is  possildc 
ntent  with  his 
i  parish  school - 

II  person  in  ;i 
below  the  min 

i  and  responsi- 
as  enabled  him 
a  population  ol 
was  a  thriving 


and  protrressive  place,  a  bur<rh  or  l)arony  under 
the  Duke  of  (iordon,  and  a  schoolmaster  who  was 
well  settled  there  would,  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances,  be  srlad  to  remain. 

The  parish  clerk  and  schoolmaster  of  Uuntly 
at  llijit  time  was  William  Donald.  He  was  then 
a  m:ni  of  under  middle  age,  and  thouo-h  his  hair 
was  already  tin<re<l  with  ii'rey,  his  fair,  fresh  com- 
plexion showed  him  to  be  in  the  full  vitror  of 
healthy  manhood.  He  had  come  to  Huntly  in 
l>i87.  jind  had  l)een  married  there  on  the  'I'M'd  of 
April.  1S8*,*.  to  Miss  Anne  Milne,  of  that  place, 
formerly  of  Barony  parish,  Glasoow.  Three  chil- 
dren had  blessed  the  union,  and  Huntly  had  be- 
come the  family  home.  All  the  surroundinars 
were  pleasant.  The  i)e()ple  were  attached  to  Mr. 
Donald  by  reason  of  his  personal  (pialities  as  a 
friend  and  nei<rhb()r.  while  they  honored  him  for 
his  scholarly  attaimnents.  Of  sound  learnintr  and 
tinished  address,  he  had  no  j)edantic  atfectation, 
and  he  bore  himself  with  a  dijrnity  that  would 
ha\('  commanded  respect  wherever  his  lot  mijrht 
have  been  cast,  or  whatever  miofht  have  been  his 
vocation. 

William  Donah  I  was  born  at  Edinffio-ht,  (irantj^e, 
liantishire,  on  the  Oth  of   June,  1807,  and  was  the 


^^ 


son  of  .John  Donald,  u  farinor,  who  was  also 
trround  otticor  to  the  Earl  of  Fife.  The  wife  of 
Jolin  Donald  had  l)een  Janet  Mcllattie.  Young 
Donald  got  more  than  an  ordinarily  good  educa- 
tion, for  not  only  did  he  anjuire  all  that  was  to 
lie  gained  in  the  schools,  hut  he  was  a  student 
and  gra<luate  at  Marischal  College,  vVherdeen, 
from  which  famous  university  he  received  the 
degree  of  M.  A.  He  was,  in  all,  eight  years  at 
Marischal,  the  Divinity  course  reiiuiring  the  last 
four  of  them. 

The  entrance  of  Mr.  Donald  into  the  ministry 
of  the  Established  Church  was  one  of  the  conse- 
([uences  of  the  Act  of  Secession,  though  it  was 
six  years  tifter  that  event  when  he  was  ordained. 
He  was  one  of  many  who  had  comi)leted  the  re- 
quired course  of  study  and  were  ordained  from 
time  to  time  as  their  services  were  refjuired  at 
home  or  abroad.  Mr.  Donald  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  take  charge  of  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
St.  John,  was  ordained  by  the  Colonial  Committee 
of  the  Established  Church,  in  April,  1849.  In 
that  month  he  maile  his  preparations  to  leave  for 
America,  with  his  wife  and  family.  His  friends 
at  Huntly,  who  embraced  all  classes,  did  not  pro- 
pose to  let  him   go   as  quietly   a^s   he   might    have 


1. 


lo  was  also 
The  wife  of 
,tie.  Yoiingr 
good  ediica- 
that  was  to 
IS  a  student 
vVherdcen, 
•eceived  the 
ght  years  at 
•ing  the  last 

the  ministry 
f    the  conse- 
:mg\\   it    was 
as  ordained. 
L'ted   the    re- 
da  ined   from 
required    at 
g    I  )een    ap- 
w's   Church, 
1  Committee 
1,    1849.     In 
to  leave  for 
His   friends 
did  not  pro- 
might    have 


9 

wished,  however,  and  they  took  an  early  oppor- 
tunity of  teslifving  their  esteem  for  him  in  a 
substantial   way. 

At  a  largely  attended  meeting  held  in  the 
Duke  of  Uichmoncrs  Ilall,  liuntly,  on  Wednesday, 
April  11,  1H4"J,  Mr.  Donald  was  presented  with  a 
beautiful  silver  tea  service,  on  which  was  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  : 

Presented 

to 

Tin:  Rev.  William  Donald, 

on  his  leaving  for 

St.  .lohu, 
Xew  Hrunswiok, 
'  by 

u  number  of  hi.s  friends 

in  liuntly  and  vicinity, 

as  a  mark  of  their 

sincere  respect  and  esteem, 

Ai'uiL,  ISIU. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  presentation  the  chair 
was  occupied  by  Alexander  Stewart,  Estpiire,  who 
addressed  Mr.  Donald  on  behalf  of  his  many 
friends.  Mr.  Stewart  stated  that  as  Mr.  Donald 
w'ls  al»f)ut  to  leave  for  St.  John,  Xew  lirunswick. 
to  fill  the  highly  important  position  of  minister  of 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  his  numerous  friends  and 
well  wishers  in  the  town  of  Huntly  and  neighbor- 
hood could  not  allow  the  occasion  to  pass  without 


Ji 


10 


exprcssiiiir  their   lioai-tfelt    sorrow    and    reofret    for 
the    loss    they    were    to     sustain.      He     had     l>een 
deputed  to  express  this  to    Mr.    Donald,    and    also 
to  present  to  him  the   iiandsonie   silver  tea  service 
then  on  the  table,  in  the  name  of  the  siihscrihers, 
anions  whom    were    members   of    every    (.•ono:re<ra- 
tion  in  the    place.     He    begtrod   that   the   reverend 
gentleman  would  accept  this  testimonial  as  a  small 
token    of   their    respect  towards    him,    and   of   the 
hi^h  sense  they    entertained    of    his   conduct   since 
he    had    come    among   them,    nearly    twelve    years 
i)efore.     They    recocfnized    him    not    only     in     his 
public  capacity  as  a  teacher,   in  which  all  knew  he 
had  l)een  very  successful,    but  also    in    his   private 
character  as  a  oentleman,  and  above  all,  as  a  kind 
friend    to    the    poor,    whose    blessinof    he    carried 
along-    with    him.      In     conclusion,     Mr.     Stewart 
expressed  the  earnest  wish  of  the  sultscribers   that 
Mr.   Donald  woukl  meet  with  a  harmonious  recep- 
tion from  his  highly  resi)ectal)le  congregation,  and 
that    health,    happiness    and    every    worldly   com- 
fort,   might    attend    him,    Mrs.     Donahl    and    the 
family. 

Such  is  an  al)stract  of  the  acklress,  given  in 
one  of  the  news})apers  of  the  time.  The  reply  of 
Mr.   Donakl  has  been  preserved.     In  its  simplicity 


11 


I  reofret  for 
;  had  been 
(I,  and  also 
I-  tea  service 

subscribers, 
•y  conofretja- 
tlie  reverend 
ial  as  a  small 

and  of  the 
onduct  since 
twelve  years 
only  in  his 
1  all  knew  he 
I  his  private 
dl,  as  a  kind 
f  he  carried 
Mr.  Stewart 
(scribers  that 
onions  recep- 
^re<itition,  and 
kvorldly  coni- 
ald    and    the 

ess,  given  in 
The  reply  of 
its  simplicity 


of  expression  it  ofives  the  keynote   to   the   charac- 
ter of  the  future  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  Church. 
"There    are    some   feelinirs   and    emotions    that 
lano-u!iL''e     cannot     express,"     sai<l      Mr.      DonaM. 

^  ^  I. 

"Some  such  do  I  now  exi)erience  in  acceptintr  this 
verv  flattering  and  sulistantial  mark  of  your  re- 
gard. Sinu)lv  to  sav  'I  thank  vou '  W(mld  best 
accord  with  my  present  feelinofs,  for  I  am  sensi- 
ble that  no  words  of  mine  can  convey  any  ade(piate 
i<lea  of  my  heartfelt  orratitude  for  all  the  kind- 
nesses and  marks  of  good  will  which  I  have 
experienced  during  the  eleven  an<l  a  half  years  I 
have  been  among  you.  And  now,  when  about  to 
leave,  to  have  this  addititmal  splendid  testimony 
of  your  frien<lshi)) — to  which  men  of  all  parties 
and  religious  denominjitions,  as  I  am  given  to 
understand,  have  been  contributors— makes  me 
ask  myself,  what  have  I  done  to  be  accounted 
worthy  of  all  thisf  It  cannot  be  from  any 
superior  (jUaliHcations  disi)layed  in  the  exercise  of 
the  various  duties  devolving  on  me.  for  these  I  do 
not  possess  ;  but  with  such  abilities  as  I  do  pos- 
sess J  have  endeavored  to  discharge  the  several 
trusts  committed  to  me,  with  honesty  of  pur[)ose 
and  zeal  in  performance.  \Miilst  laboring  among 
the  youth  of  this  parish,  it    has  l)een    my    anxious 


MMUUtoMMwiilMvtMltCXSiaaitofNtfHH 


12 

cndeiivor  to  point  tlie  way  to    their    obtaining   the 
knowledjre    reciuisito    for    the    fiiitillment    of   their 
duties  as  i^ood  citizens,  and   at   the    same   time    to 
teach  them  to  ^remend)er  their  cireator  in  the  days 
of  their  youth/  and  thus  prepare  them  for  the  ful- 
iillment  of  tlieir  duties  as  good  christians.     In  the 
difficult  task  of  attending  to  the  wants  of  the  poor, 
it  has  been  my  endeavor  to  do  it    in    su<'h   a    way 
as  not  to  injure  their   feelings;    to    preserve   their 
spirit    of    self-dependence,   and  at   the   same   time 
to  be  the  least  burdensome  to  those  who  supplied 
the    funds.     In    my    intercourse    with    all,    it    has 
been  my  study  to  'live  peaceably    with    all    men,' 
o-ranting  to  others  the  same   liberty   of  opinion   as 
I  claim  to  myself.     During  the  period  of    my    in- 
cumbency here,    there  have   been   troublous  times, 
yet  so  far  as  1  am  aware,    1  have  been  enabled  to 
steer  through  the  shoals  and   quicksands   of   party 
strife   and   religious    contention,    without    losing    a 
single  friend  or  making  a  single  enemy.     For  this 
I    am   thankful    to   a   higher  i)ower;  and   that  my 
conduct  in  this   respect   has   met  your  approbation 
affords  me  the  utmost  satisfaction. 

''In  reviewing  the  whole  of  my  intercourse 
with  the  inhabitants  of  Huntly  and  vicinity,  1  do 
not  think   that   a   line   of  conduct  dilierent  from 


18 


(tainin^   the 
nt    of   their 
ine   time    to 
in  the  <hiys 
for  the  ful- 
ims.     In  the 
of  the  |)()or, 
siu'h   !i    way 
eserve   their 
s   same   time 
^iio  supplied 
all,    it    has 
h    all    men,' 
f  opinion  as 
I  of    my    in- 
iblous  times, 
n  enabled  to 
ids   of   party 
[)iit    losincr    a 
ly.     For  this 
and   that  my 
•  approbation 

r  intercourse 
vicinity,  1  do 
iti'erent  from 


what  I  have  pursued  would  have  tended  to  the 
public  tjfood  or  my  own  comfort.  And  wherever 
I  iio.  this  splendid  testimonial  will  ever  be  a 
memorial  of  the  lia[)py  days  I  have  enjoye<l  amons; 
you,  and  will  also  cniourajjfe  me  so  to  conduct 
myself  and  to  discliarire  the  duties  of  the  import- 
ant charirc'  on  which  I  am  soon  to  enter,  in  such 
a  way  as  to  merit  the  approbaticm  of  those  amontr 
whom  I  am  al»out  to  lul»or,  and  to  secure  that 
inward  satisfaction  which  is  above  all  price,  and 
to  ol)tain  the  orrace  and  blessinof  of  (lod,  without 
which  there  can  be  no  comfort  here  and  no  happi- 
ness hereafter. 

"To  you  personally,  sir.  I  betf  to  express  my 
best  thanks  for  the  too  tlattcrinjr  terms  in  which 
you  have  l)cen  pleased  to  s[»cak  of  me  at  this  time, 
and  for  the  courtesy  and  kindness  which  I  have 
ever  experienced  from  ycm  during  our  intercourse, 
which  of  late  years  has  been  very  close.  To  all 
I  bejr  to  say  that.  Iiiohlv  as  I  esteem  this  valuable 
testimonial  on  its  own  account,  yet  still  hiirher  do 
I  prize  the  feelings  of  regard  and  friendship 
Avhich  i)roin])ted  the  gift— and  yet  more  that  it  is 
not  the  gift  of  a  sect  or  party,  but  the  spon- 
taneous expression  of  the  good  will  of  all  classes 
and  denominations.     Most  sincerely  do  I  thank  you 


i 


14 

;in«l  pni.N  lliiit,  tlioiii:'!)  we  mimv  never  Mjr.'iiit  mII 
meet  on  eiirlli.  we  ni.iy  :ill  meet  ;irouM<l  llu^ 
tlinme  nlmve.  .iinl  In'  received  there  with  tlie 
joyous  sentence,  '('onie  ye  hlessed  of  my  Father, 
inherit  the  kin^jfthnn  prepiiri'd  for  yon  het'ore  the 
t'onnd:ition>   of  thi'  earth    were   hiiil. '" 

The  senior  pupils  of  the  school  tan^dit  l»y  Mr. 
Donald  als()  presented  him,  before  his  departure, 
with  a  larire  and  handsomely  hound  liihie,  in 
which  was  the  followinir  inscription: 

Presented 

to 

'I'm-:  Rev.  Wii.i.iam  Donam), 

I'iuooliial  Scliodlriiivster  of  llniitl^', 

oi)  tlie  occasion  of 

his  tjoiii<T  to  St.  .loliii,  \ew  Brunswick, 

by  tlie  sclicdars  attemliiig  liis  scliool, 

as  11  small  token  of  their  gratitude  for  his 

unvaried  exertion  for  their  improvement, 

and  a  mark  of  the  high  respect  and  esti'ein 

they  entertain    for  liini. 

lllMI.V.   ACKII.,  1S4!). 

In  those  days  the  most  of  the  ocean  [)assenor<-'r 
l)U.siness  was  done  by  sailinof  ships.  A  little  more 
than  ten  years  before,  it  liad  been  demonstrated 
that  steam  was  practical,  and  in  LS4(»  the  (.'unard 
line  w.'is  established.  Imt  for  n  family  jroino-  direct 
to  St.  .John  tile  vovaii'e  bv  sailinof  vessel  continued 


16 


IT  !i»riiiii  :ill 
:iroiiM<l    1ll(^ 

V  with  the 
iiiv    Fatlit'i', 

I    I K' tori'  iIk' 

lo-lit  l»y  Ml'. 
s  (U'piirtiiro, 
(I    Hil)Us    in 


y, 

vick, 
)ol, 

or  his 
meiit, 
esti't'in 


ill!  [)ass(.'norer 
I  little  more 
lemonstratod 
)  the  CiiiiJird 
ofoini>-  (lireet 
ie\  continued 


to  l»e  the  pret'eniMe  method,  llsivin^  taken  leave 
of  his  friends  at  lliintly,  Mr.  Donald,  "  ith  his 
fan)ily  and  a  nurse  for  the  children,  started  in 
Kcan-h  of  a  siiitalde  ship.  From  Iluntly  they 
Mcnt  1)V  stajre  coach  to  Alierdeen,  thence  l>y 
steamer  to  tlu'  Port  of  Fdinhiirgfh,  from  which 
phu'c  ihey  went  l>y  railway  to  (ilas«r<)w.  In 
Ih''  latter  city  they  remained  a  week,  Imt  failinir 
to  tind  a  ship  bound  for  St.  rJohn,  they  weii<  to 
Liverpool.  There  they  learned  that  the  s  lip 
Themis,  Captain  LeiLditon,  was  chartered  lor  St. 
John,  and  ;  iter  a  delay  of  another  week  they 
started  on  their  journey  to  their  new  home  across 
the  seas.  The  Themis  called  at  Belfast,  and 
reached  St.  John  on  the  I8th  of  June,  1S4!»,  after 
a  passa<2:e  of  twenty-nine  days.  The  \'oyaire  was 
without  incident  worthy  of  note. 

The  fellow  passengers  with  Mr.  Donahl  and 
his  family  wei'e  Mrs.  Scott,  wife  of  Captain  S<-ott, 
K.  X.,  who  was  afterwards  Kxaminer  of  Mastcr> 
and  Mates  at  the  port  of  St.  John,  and  her  son, 
Heresford  Scott,  now  of  tiie  liritish  navy;  Miss 
Tilley.  who  later  became  Mrs.  Younir  Jind  lived 
in  one  of  the  iij)i)er  provinces  of  Canada;  Mr. 
Pirn  :  Miss  Xash,  wiio  suijsetpiently  married  flohn 
S.     Klleo:ood,    of    the    parish    of    Dumfries,    York 


16 


County,  New  Brunswick,  and  whose  dauorhter  is 
now  the  Avife  of  Alhin  Dibhlee,  M.  P.  P.,  of 
Carleton  county;  Ca])tiin  Cressor;  C'apttiin  Han- 
nernian:  Mr.  Bardslc.N ,  wlio  settled  in  St.  John 
as  a  slonecntter ;  and  Miss  Margaret  Murray,  wiio 
was  afterwards  married  to  Sergeant  Murray,  of 
the  St.  John  police.  Durinir  the  passage  it  was 
the  custom  of  Mr.  Donahl  to  liave  evening' 
prayers  for  the  benefit  of  tlie  passengers  and  such 
of  the  ship's  company  as  couhl  attend. 

Mr.  Donald  received  a  hearty  welcome  on  his 
arrival  at  St.  John.  ''From  the  high  character  he 
has  hitherto  mnintained  and  the  very  flattering 
testimonials  he  brings  with  him,  we  anticii)ate  the 
ha])piest  results,"  said  the  Observer  newspaper  in 
referring  to  his  arrival.  The  anticii)ati()n  was 
destined  to  be   fully    realized    in    the  future  years. 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  Mr.  Donald  ma(U' 
his  first  appearance  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Old  Kirk, 
and  his  initial  sermon  proved  that  he  was  the 
minister  for  whom  the  congregation  had  been 
looking.  The  first  marriage  at  whicli  he  olhciated 
was  on  the  2()th  of  June,  and  the  first  btiptisni 
was  on  the  ."ith  of  July.  Such  were  the  begin- 
ninii"*^  of  a  ministry  which  was  destined  to  e.\ten<l 
over    tlie    next    tv,<>   and    twenty    years,     wiiii-h    is 


(lauo^hter  is 
M.  P.  P.,  of 
C'iipttiin    Hiin- 

in  St.  John 
Muri'jiy,  wlu) 

Murray,  of 
.ss!io:o  it  was 
lave  cvcniiii!' 
^ers  and  such 
(I. 

ilcoiiic  on  iiis 
1  c'ha racier  lie 
ery  tlatterini: 
ant ici pate  the 
newspaper  in 
('i[)ati()n  was 
future  vears. 
Donald  made 
the  Old  Kirk. 

he  was  the 
n\  iiad  l>een 
ii  lie  ollii'iated 
first  l);iptisni 
re  the  I )e.<''i li- 
ned to  extend 
irs,     wiui'ii     i.'^ 


f 


I 


Li. 


m 


J 


I 

u 


con 

of 

peo 


IT 

now  recotrnized  as  having  been  notable  in  many 
ways,  and  not  the  least  feature  of  which  was  the 
continual  sfrowing  to  greater  and  greater  strength 
of  the  ties  which  united  the  pastor  and  the 
people. 


B 


r  f" 


III. 

A  Fine  ConiirojTiition.— Men  wlio  Gave  of  tlieir  Means.— 'Dk 
Steps  wliicli  Led  to  tlie  Appointment  of  Mr.  Donald.— 
Settled  as  a  Pastor. 

While  the  Church  of  Enorland  enjoyed  the 
hio-hest  official  favor  in  the  |)rovince  of  >;t" 
Brunswick,  as  in  the  other  British  colonies  \\\ 
that  time,  the  Established  Church  of  Scotlam! 
stood  on  no  lower  plane  hi  reofard  to  the  status 
and  influence  of  its  members  and  adherents.  vSt. 
Andrew's  Church  had  in  its  congregation  men 
who  were  honored  in  public  life  and  those  whose 
names  were  towers  of  strength  in  the  business  ol 
the  conuiumity  and  the  country.  At  the  time  oi 
Mr.  Donald's  arrival,  the  chairman  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  cluirch  was  John  Pollok,  of  the  great 
timber  and  shipping  tirm  known  as  Kobeil 
Rankin  &  Co.  in  St.  John,  and  by  other  liriii 
designations  in  the  various  ports  where  it  carried 
on  business  in  Great  Britain,  the  colonics  and  the 
United  States.  Another  of  the  trustees  was  tin 
Honorable    John    Kobertson,    a     member     of     tin 


19 


eir  Means. — 'Dn 
)f  Mr.  Donald.— 


enjo5''e(l      tlic 
ince    of     ^«t" 
li    colonies    n1 
1    of    Scot  lam! 

to  the  statii> 
ulherents.  tSt, 
cregation  men 
d  those  whost 
he  business  ol 
Lt  the  time  oi 
1  of  the  trii--- 
i,  of  the  gvv'M 
n  as  Kobeil 
by  other  tirtii 
here  it  carric'i! 
)lonics  ami  tin 
iistees  ^vas  tin 
.'mber     of    tin 


Leo:islativc  Council  of  Now  linuiswicU.  who  had 
been  mayor  of  Si.  John  l»y  appoiiituiont  of  the 
governnicnt.  lie  was  an  extensive  shipi.ino-  mer- 
chant :ui(l  :i  man  of  ample  means,  lie  took  a- 
deep  interest  in  Mr.  Donald  from  the  oiitM't.  and 
durinu-  the  ioiii!-  pastorate  he  was  of  miiteria!  aid 
to  the  ministrr.  not  only  l»y  his  counsel  and  sup- 
p(U-t  hill  by  the  free  use  of  his  wealth  in  aid  of 
every  i>-o<)<l  work.  'I'he  other  trustees  were  Adam 
Jack,  president  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society; 
John  Wisharl.  a  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen; 
E.  W.  (ireenwood:  James  Kobertson ;  James 
Adam;  Thomas  Nisbet.  i>resident  of  the  Me- 
chanics' Whale  Fishini--  Company;  (ieorire  Mur- 
ray; John  Duncan,  of  the  extensive  shipluiildinu- 
and  shipownino-  tirn.i  of  Owens  ^<:  Duncan;  Alex- 
ander Jardine  and  James  Kirk.  These  are  n:ime> 
well  and  favorably  remembered  lo  this  d:iy  by 
th(»se  of  niMture  yetirs  in  St.  John,  juid  they  ;iri> 
names  which  are  familiar  to  many  a  younger 
person,  through  the  traditions  of  tlie  city  and  its 
business  during  tlu'  last   Hfly  years. 

The  conoTegation.  then  and  alterwMrd>.  in- 
cluded many  othei's  of  high  .-tan.ling.  amonu- 
whom  it  may  be  ■>iiiHcient  to  mention  -u^'h  n;i;)ies 
as    tlu)se    of    Dr.    J(tlm    \\'ad(kdl.  >iii-erinten'ichl   of 


IS  •,' 


20 


the  Provincial  Lunatic  Asylum;  William  Girvaii, 
later  cashier  of  the  liank  of  New  Ih'unswick,  and 
now  ins])ector  of  tlie  same  tinancial  institution; 
Thomas  Siiue,  of  her  Majesty's  Customs,  and  suh- 
seiiuently  of  Lloyd's;  Robert  Robertson;  Koherl 
Rankin;  Robert  Jardine;  William  and  Robert 
Thomson;  James  McFarlane;  Dr.  William  Livinji- 
stone.  a  leadino-  physician  and  a  relative  of  llic 
irreat  Africtm  explorer,  and  who  had  himself  been 
on  an  arctic  expedition;  Dr.  Thomas  Walker,  a 
wealthy  old  time  physician,  and  his  sons;  Jame> 
Reed,  of  the  tirm  of  J.  tt  R.  Reed,  owners  of  the 
famous  lilack  Ball  line  of  clipper  sailing;  shii)s: 
flames  Lawton;  William  Mackay;  William  Smith, 
afterwards  Deputy  Minister  of  Marine  of  Canada: 
Lauchlan  Donaldson,  who  had  l»een  mayor  of  the 
city,  under  irovernment  api)ointments,  for  seven 
years;  William  ().  Smith,  who  was  later  elected 
mayor  by  the  city  council,  and  Avas  afterwards 
continued  in  office  four  consecutive  years  f)y  th( 
annual  vote  of  the  citizens;  the  llonoralde  Hugli 
.Johnston,  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council: 
lienrv  Jack;  Georo-e  Younc^;  Francis  Fergfuson.  a 
wealthy  lumber  merchant  and  prominent  citi/eii: 
AlexaiKier  ilalloch.  for  many  years  Grand  Master 
of    the    Freemasons    in     New    lirunswiek;    Robert 


21 


illiam   Girvuii. 

riinswick,   iind 

111    inwtitiilioii -. 

toms,  and  suli- 

■rtson;    K()))(.'il 

and     Kol)eit 

illiam  Livinji- 

elative    of   Uw 

I  himself  hooii 

las   Walker,    a 

is   sons;  Jam(.'> 

owners  of  the 

sailino^  shii)s: 
Villiam  Smith, 
ine  of  Canadn: 

mayor  of  the 
nts,  for  se\'eii 
i  later  elected 
as  afterwar(l> 
'  years  by  tin 
tnorable  Hiijili 
lative  Council: 
s  Ferofiison,  a 
ninent  citi/eii: 
Grand  Master 
swick;    Kobert 


Nisbet:  Julius  L.  Inches,  now  Secretary  for  Ajiri- 
cuhnre  in  New  Brunswick;  Charles  McLauchlan; 
Duncan  Hol)erts(m;  John  (Jillis,  a  well  known 
editor;  Robert  1).  McArthur;  William  Hutchinson 
and  Alexander  Robertson. 

Some  of  these  men  were  wealthy,  and  all  were 
well  to  do.  That  they  srave  freely  for  the  su])- 
port  of  the  church  and  pastor  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  when  a  si)ecial  collection  was 
taken  uj)  to  pay  oti'  the  del)t  of  the  <'hurch,  in 
1854,  the  sum  realized  was  s;>,;W8,  to  which  the 
contribution  of  one  man,  the  Honorable  John 
Robertson,  was  >t^.")(M),  Nor  were  the  con^re<jfation 
less  liberal  when  their  aid  was  asked  for  national 
movements,  as  was  shown  when  the  Kirk  aston- 
ished the  other  churches  of  the  province  by  the 
liberal  donation  it  o-ave  to  what  ^vas  known  as  the 
Patriotic  Fund,  durinof  the  Crimean  war. 

The  minister  of  the  church  from  1842  to  184S 
had  b;'en  Kev.  Andrew  Halket.  a  man  of  rare 
gifts,  who  Avas  a  i)oet  as  well  as  a  scholar. 
Wishinii"  to  return  to  Scotland,  he  resigned  in  the 
last  named  year  and  correspondence  was  begun 
with  the  Colonial  Committee  of  the  (ieneral  As- 
seml>ly.  with  a  \iew  to  obtaining  a  suitalile  min- 
ister.    During    the    previous    year.    Rev,    Norman 


//r 


mm 


'  ,1 


22 

M:icIa>(kI.  wlio  was  oven  tlion  :»  man  of  note. 
Ihouiili  not  as  famous  as  lie  iKramo  in  later  lime,-. 
had  v'siti"!  Si.  ,)olin  in  company  with  two  other 
pronrniciit  members  of  the  (Jeneral  Assemhls. 
'riu«  position  St.  .Vndrew's  ("hiireli  held  a>  repre 
sentative  of  the  Kslahlished  Chureh  in  this  pari 
of  the  world  was.  it  was  thoii<»-ht.  elearly  pointel 
out  to  lliese  visitors,  and  they  were  understood  to 
he  much  itnpressed.  When,  therefore,  eorro 
pondence  m  rcpird  to  a  pastor  was  he.irun  with 
tiie  Coloiual  Committee,  it  was  believed  that  iid 
time  w(;uld  iie  l(;>t  in  sendin,i>-  the  ri,i>ht  kind  of  :> 
man.  The  C'oir.miltee.  however,  failed  to  o-ive  the 
attention  which  was  expected,  and  some  sharp  let- 
ters were  sent  torward  l>y  the  trustees  durino-  tho 
summer  of  l^-t>^.  In  July  of  that  year,  on  the 
()(rasi(m  of  Mr.  Ciiarles  Inches  o'oino-  to  Scotland, 
he  wa>  furnished  witli  docinnents  likely  to  awaken 
the  Colonial  Committee  to  a  sense  of  its  netrlect. 
One  of  these  documents,  a  letter  addressed  to  tlic 
Committee  otlicially.  expresses  surprise  that  "an 
atfair  of  such  uroent  importance  to  the  intereM 
of  the  Kstaltlished  Church  as  the  plaeinir  of  a 
man  of  eminence  in  a  position  such  as  St.  John 
atlords  for  streno'thenini*-  and  sustaining  the 
Church   should   have    l)een   allowed   to    l)e   so    lono 


23 


tin    of    note. 

later  times, 
li  two  other 
I  Assembly. 
['1(1  as  re})re- 
in  this  part 
tt\v\y  pointei 
inderstood  to 
'ore,     eorres- 

heiriin  with 
■\e<l  tliat  11(1 
[ht  kind  of  ;i 
(i  to  ji'ive  tlic 
ne  sharp  let- 
's (iiirino*  tiu' 
year,    on   the 

to  Scotland. 
1\'  to  awaken 
f  its  neo^leel. 
ressed  to  tlu' 
ise   that  "an 

the  intere>t 
^laeinir  of  ;i 
I  as  8t.  Joliii 
staining  the 
)    he   so   lonii 


api)arently  unattended  to.''  There  was  further 
correspondence  in  the  autunui  of  that  year,  and 
finally  word  was  received  that  a  suitahle  minister 
had  heen  chosen,  in  the  person  of  Rev.  William 
Donald,  of  lluntly. 

Durintr  the  vacancy  in  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
Kev.  William  Stewart  was  engaged  as  temporary 
pastor,  leaving  to  go  to  Chatham,  New  Bruns- 
wick, in  February,  1M45>. 

In  those  days,   the  majority  of  the  men  of  the 
conirreiration  were  Scotchmen  horn,  and  it  may  he 
readily    understood    that   they    wouhl    he    satistied 
with  no  pastor  who    was  not   ipialified   to    do    full 
justice   to  the   Presbyterian    belief    and    the   tradi- 
tions of  his  native  Scotland.     The  happy  choice  of 
Dr.     liurns,    had    been    made,    a    generation    pre- 
viously, l)y  Hugh  Johnston,   senior,  when  in  Scot- 
hmd,    but    in    the     instance     of    Mr.     Donald    the 
instructions    were    given     to    the     Colonial     Com- 
mittee, with   an   intimation  that  the  best  was  none 
too   good   for   the   Ohl  Kirk.     Tlie   salary  of  i*5()»> 
currency     (/r^'2,000)    was     large,    as    sahiries     went 
in  those   days,   and   a  first-class   nunister  was   ex- 
pected.      The    letter    to    the    Cohmial    Committee 
had  asked  for  "a  man  of  eminence,"   and  the  re- 
sult slicjwcd  that  the  Committee  was  fully  alive  to 


f  f-^mmmm 


^mm 


24 

its  ivsponsihilities.  The  wis^doin  of  its  choice  ot 
Mr.  Donald  was  recoornizcd  from  the  time  of 
his    lirst  appearance  before  the  con.ofregation. 

Mr.  Donald  was  in(Uicted  us  pastor  on  Tues- 
day, July  loth,  1H-H>.  On  this  occasion,  Kev. 
John  Koss,  of  the  town  of  St.  Andrew's,  N.  B.. 
presided  and  preached  an  impressive  sermon. 
With  him  were  Rev.  John  M.  Brooke,  of  Fred 
ericton.  and  Kev.  John  Cassilis,  of  St.  Patrick. 
On  the  folU)winir  Thursday  was  held  the  first 
Ivirk  Session  at  which  Mr.  Donald  sat  as  mod- 
erator. His  remarks  were  ])lain  and  practical, 
and  he  laid  stress  upon  hi«  intention  to  visit  the 
members  of  the  conofreiration  as  early  thereafter 
as  possible,  and  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  ot 
all  who  sat  under  his  ministry.  All  who  knew  him 
will  bear  witness  that  he  carried  out  this  idea  to 
the  end  t)f  his  days.  As  a  pastor,  he  was  ever 
watchful  of  his  Hock. 

One  of  Mr.  Donald's  early  official  duties  was 
to  ifo  to  Fredericton,  two  months  after  his  arrival 
at  St.  John,  to  confer  with  the  o^overnment  iu 
regard  to  some  lands  owned  by  the  Kirk.  Hero 
he  met  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  Sir  Edmund 
\>'alker  Head,  from  whom  he  had  a  most  favor- 
able reception. 


ts  choice   ot 
he    time    of 
gation. 
or  on  Tue.s- 
•asion,    Rev. 
Bw's,    N.  li.. 
ivc     scrinoii. 
ke.  of  Fred 
St.    Patrick. 
;kl    the    Hrst 
sat  as   mod 
id    practical, 
to  visit  the 
ly   thereafter 
uaintance   ot 
lio  knew  him 
t  this  idea  to 
he   was   ever 

bl  duties  was 
3r  his  arrivid 
)vernment  iu 
Kirk.  Here 
Sir  Edmund 
I  most  favor- 


TV 

St.  .lolm  at*  It  \V;is  in    ISI'.i.— Some    IMiniitivf  Coiiditidtis.— 
Tilt'  riaiii  Kasliioii  of   t>u'  Old    Kirk.— Its  One  I.iixnry. 

In  the  interval  helween  Mr.  Donald's  induction 
and  Ills  mcc'ting  with  the  Kirk  Session,  a  storm 
had  swc])t  over  St.  John  in  which  lie  or  his  c(m- 
gre«iiition  had  no  part,  l)ut  whicli  seriously 
distiii'hed  the  pence  of  the  conununity  nt  the  time 
and  accentuated  feelings  of  bitterness  whicli 
continued  for  years.  This  was  the  riot  of  the 
12tli  of  July,  due  to  a  street  parade  of  tiie 
Oran<nMnen.  As  it  has  no  relation  to  Mr.  Donakl 
and  his  work,  it  is  merely  mentioned  as  an  inci- 
dent of  the  times.  During-  the  disturbance  several 
lives  were  lost  and  a  number  of  people  injured. 
In  this  connection,  however,  it  mtiy  be  noted  that 
in  all  Mr.  Donald's  career  as  a  minister,  he 
never  did  ;uioht  to  provoke  or  encourage  religious 
strife,  or  indeed  controversy  of  any  kind.  Firmly 
adhering  to  his  own  faith,  he  was  most  tolerant  of 
the  beliefs  of  others,  and  he  lived  at  peace  with 
men   of   all   creeds.      As   a    residt,    no   clergyman 


t     7* 


26 

in    St     .Tclm    w:is    held     in     tuoro    siiiccro    rospci  t 
l»y    :)11   chissi'S  of   lu-opk'. 

Al   tlu'  lime  of    Mr.    l>()n:il(rs   tirrivul,    tlu-  t'il\ 
„f    St.    John    liii'l    !i    population    of    !il)()iit    iil,0(Mi. 
:ni.l    there    were    twenty    ehiiivhos.     The    city    hii> 
now     more     than     (h)ul)UMl     its     tiirures     in     l)()tli 
respects.     St.    .Jolm    had   then    many    needs    wljicli 
have  siiiee  heen  >.ipi)lie<l,  hut  the  phiee  was  tjrow 
iiiL'    rapi<lly.      H    had     not     tiien     a     o-ood     water 
siipi)ly.     A    partial    siii)p!y    lia<l   l>een    inano-nrate<l 
ill     is;5s.     Wnt    there    was    not    a    siilKeient    system 
until   ls.">2.     dohn  Duncan,   presick-nt  of  the  Water 
Com^)any.  was  a  memi.er  of  St.  Andrew's  eimorn- 
cration,  and  so  was  James  Robertson,  the  seerctarv 
and     manaii-er.       Mr.      Duncan     was     not     only    a 
prominent    shipl)uilder,    as    before    mentioned,    bill 
he  was  a   l»ank  director,  the  president  of  an  insui'- 
ance    company    and    in    other    ways    a    very    aetivi 
man  of  atfairs. 

(ias  hatl  l»ecn  introduced  into  St.  John  in  lbi4t). 
but  no  church  was  li»-hted  with  it  until  the  latter 
part  of  Is-fT.  In  1S8(),  ten  years  before  the  ad 
vent  of  jras  in  the  city,  the  trustees  of  the  ehurdi 
had  voted  to  a(»  away  with  lamps  in  the  chiircli 
and  to  use  c;ndles.  This  may  now  be  thouuflit 
suofo-estive  of    primitive    times,    but    still    more  so 


27 


core    ros|)L'(  t 

V!il,  the  c'itv 
l)()llt  'it,0(M>. 
riie  city  lit- 
res    in     l)<>tli 

iioeds  Nvhicli 
L'c  was  grow- 

ffood  water 
I  iiiauji'iiratnl 
icieiit  sysU'iii 
of  the  Water 
rewV  eouijre 

the  seeretar.v 

not  only  a 
entioned,  but 
t  of  an  insui'- 
i    \ei'y   actiw 

John  in  184*). 
ntil  the  hitter 
)efore  the  aii- 
of  the  ehunli 
in  the  chureli 
w  be  thouoflit 
still   more  s<i 


is  the  record  that,  in  is;','),  the  trustees  had  vo- 
ted to  |)iit  a  railinir  in  front  of  the  ehureh  h)t,  in 
order,  as  they  -aid,  to  ket'i)  cattle  ott'  the  <rr()unds. 
One  ol  the  early  presidents  of  the  (ias  Com- 
pany was  Robert  ,jardine,  one  of  the  Kirk 
conLn-e«»alion.  Mr.  riardine  was  also  the  president 
of  the  New  iininswieU  Mau'netic  Telegraph  Coin- 
puny,  which  sent  its  tirst  inessa<re  from  St.  .John 
to  Halifax  in  November.  1841».  A  still  trreater 
distinction  which  he  enjoyed  was  in  l)eino:  eliair- 
nian  of  the  Hoard  of  Railway  Commissioners  of 
the  Knropean  and  North  American  Railway,  the 
firsl  (o  connect  St.  John  with  other  parts  of  the 
pro\  inee.  In  later  years  it  became  a  portion  of 
the  Intercolonial  railway,  uniting  Quel)ec  and  the 
Maritime  Provinces,  and  it  is  now  a  part  of  the 
Canadian  (iovernment   Railway  system. 

in  is-t!>,  the  uTeater  number  of  the  houses  in 
St.  John  were  l)uilt  of  wood,  and  so  were  the 
churches,  with  two  exceptions.  One  of  these 
latter,  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England,  had 
been  l)uilt  of  stone,  in  LSi>4,  ami  got  the  name  of 
the  '-Stone  Church."  which  it  i)ears  to  this  day. 
The  other  exception  was  the  Congregational 
Church.  l)uilt  of  brick  and  opened  a  few  years 
before  Mr.    Donald's  arrival. 


1  r* 


wm 


28 


li 


In  1849  there  was  not  a  mile  of  raihvay  in 
New  Brunswick,  llioiiirli  :i  I'ttle  work  had  been 
(lone  in  the  previous  year  as  a  preliminary  to  tlio 
construction  of  what  was  called  the  St.  Andrews 
and  Quebec  Kailway.  The  first  sod  of  that  lim- 
was  othcially  turned  in  1852,  hut  it  was  not  until 
Sei)teml)er,  ISoli,  that  the  tirst  sod  of  the 
European  and  North  American  railway  was  turned 
at  St.  John. 

St.  Andrew's  Church  was  in  line  with  the 
majority  of  the  churches  in  being;  a  wooden 
structure,  thouoh  the  St.  Andrew's  church  of 
to-day  is  a  beautiful  edifice  of  brick  and  freestone. 
Like  most  of  the  other  churches,  too,  the  Kirk 
was  plain  almost  to  u«-liness,  and  it  continued  so. 
with  scarcely  any  clianae,  until  the  day  of  it- 
destruction  by  tire  in  I.S77.  Its  orio^imil  capacity 
was  650  seats,  but  as  finally  enlaro;ed,  it  would 
seat  about  one  thousand  [)eople  on  the  main  floor 
and  in  the  g-alleries.  The  pews  were  of  the  old- 
fashioned  type,  those  at  the  sides  being  stpiarc. 
ami  the  pulpit  was  one  of  those  octagonal  boxes 
built  of  mahoo-any  [)erclied  high  above  the  heads 
of  the  congregation  upon  pillars  and  with  a  pre- 
centor's Ik)x  or  puli)it  half  ^^ay  up.  It  had  ti 
sounding  board  above  it,    and  it  was  reached  by  :i 


iu    ^ 


■ii 


29 


f  niihvay  in 
rk  had  been 
ninary  to  tlio 
St.    Andrews 

of  that  line 
was  not  until 

sod  of  the 
iy  was  turned 

ne  with  tlie 
r  a  wooik'ii 
's  church  oJ 
nd  freestone, 
oo,  the  Kirk 
continued  so. 
e  day  of  it> 
jinal  cai)acit\ 
:ed,  it  would 
le  main  tloov 
e  of  the  old- 
being  st^uarc. 
;aofonal  boxes 
>ve   the    hea<l> 

with    a    pri' 
ip.     It    had   ti 

reached  by  n 


fli<rlit  of  windiiiir  stairs.  At  the  time  of  Mr. 
Donahl's  arrivtil  no  instrumeni  of  music  had  ever 
been  heard  in  the  Kirk.  It  has  hee?i  said  of  the 
buildinu'  that  it  was  erected  at  ;i  time  in  the 
history  of  St.  fb)hn  when  simplicity  was  a 
characteristic  of  the  people.  Placed  a  little  back 
from  the  street,  and  entdosed  l)y  the  iron  railiuir* 
once  deemed  necessary  to  keep  cattle  oti'  the 
grass,  the  Kirk  hixl  tiiree  small  and  [)lain 
entrance  doors,  with  three  «>allery  windows  al)ove 
then).  There  were  two  rows  of  small  windows  at 
the  sides  of  the  l»uildini>-,  and  they  conld  only 
havi'  b''en  more  severely  sim[)le  had  they  been 
square,  iuhtead  of  roinided.  at  the  tops  of  the 
sashes.  The  steeple  was  a  modest  atfair  indi'cd, 
there  was  no  more  than  enouiih  of  il  to  iiive  a 
finish  to  the  belfry   v.  ITudi   it  surmounted. 

lVrhaj)s  the  only  thiiiii'  about  the  Kirk  that 
was  suiiii'cstive  ol'  (dea'ance  \\as  the  communion 
ser.  ice.  This  was  of  solid  silver,  and  was  the 
g^ft  of  Lieutenant-denera!  the  Hi<rht  IIonoral)le 
Georiie.  Karl  of  Dalhousie.  and  Lady  Dalhousie, 
in  isj^,  when  the  Karl  was  (iovernor  of  Nova 
Scotia.      In  the    t'oiiowino-    year    he    was    a[»pointed 


*  X(i.  .'i  Kiit,'iiH'  ("oinpiiiiy   usimI    io  iKmi.'  iliclr  iKisr  un  iliis    .    •';•<■  to 
wasli  iiijtl  dry  it  after  every  tin.'. 


ir^ 


■w^ 


-'■,0 

Governor-General  of  C'ansula.  The  silver  plalc^ 
were  the  gift  of  Miss  Affnes  Campbell,  (lan<rliloi 
of  William  Cainpliell,  a  leading  meml>er  of  llu 
cono-reo:ation  in  the  early  days.  Mr.  'Jampbell  had 
the  honor  of  heinjr  mayor  of  St.  John  for  mon 
than  twenty  years,  frotn  iVl»5  to  1S1(>,  and  A\;h 
postmaster  of  the  city  for  twenty-one  years, 
Miss  Campbell  died  in   1H40,  at  the  tis^e  of  TS. 

This  silver,  valuable  intrinsioally  and  oi 
aocount  of  its  history,  was  amonj?  the  little  save; 
on  the  da     the  Kirk  was  burned. 


.Ai 


silver    plalo 

)ell,    (lanfrliloi 

ci>il>er    oi"   tin 

'Jampboll  had 

)lin    for    mvw 

Sl(>,     iind     A\:h 

ty-oiie    year?-, 
lo'e  of  Ts. 
illy      and     oi. 
lie  little  savo(i 


V. 


Mr.  J)()Mi»M\s    AllUotinii.— Tho    Ifoiiic    in    Gormain    Street.— 
Historic  Grouiul.— Some   I'crsoiuil  ( 'luiriicteristie!5. 

On  Mr.   Dtmald's  arrival  in  St.    John    he    and   his 
family  lodfivd  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Xishet, 
one  of  his  ^onffrefration,  whieh  was  on  the  ,<rroimd 
now    orcupied    hy    the    IJayard     l)iuldin<r,     Trinee 
William  street,  nearly  opposite   the  IJank    of  New 
Brunswick.     Later  in  the  year,  he  experienced  his 
first    atlliction    in  this    country,    when   he    received 
intelliii-encc    of   the    death    of    his    mother  in  Scot- 
land.    But  a  few    more    months   had    passed    when 
death    darkened     his      immediate     iiousehohl.     and 
claimed    Ihe    wife    who   hiul    accompanied    him    to 
this    distant    land    to    share    whatever    of    joy    or 
sorrow  mi^rht  await  inm.     She    i)assed  away    unex- 
poetedly  (/U   Sunday    evenin.o-.    the    :^rd    of    Ahirch, 
1850.  tlio  event  havinof  n   irreater  sadness  from  the 
fact  th:'.t  Mr.    Donald    was    :d)s(^nt   in    Fredericton, 
where    he  had  a-one  to  assist    Kev.  ^Ir.    Brooke    in 
the  <ascharp'  of  miuis1<'rial    duties.     Mrs.     Donahl 
was  thivtv-one    Ncars  of    aov.      In    commentino-   on 


f  ^^^masam 


32 

the  occurrence,    the   Courier    newspaper   remarked 
that  ^'althou^rh  Mrs.    Donald   only  carat  among  u> 
last  summer,  she  had   hecome    a   general    favorite: 
and  by  her   amenity   of  manners   and   kindness   ot 
disposition   had   not  only   gained   the   respect    and 
esteem   of  the   Presbyterian   church   of   which  her 
husband  had  the    spiritutd    charge,    but    also    of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  belonging  to  other  religion* 
bodies.     The  funeral  took  place  on  Thursday  last. 
,,      n   the    stores    were    closed;    and   although   the 
dav    was  exn-emely    stormy,    it    was    numerously 
and  most  respectably  attended." 

Before  Mrs.  DonaM's  death,  it  had  been  tin 
intention  of  the  family  to  have  a  home  of  their 
own,  and  preparations  had  been  made  for  house- 
keeping. The  plan  was  carried  into  etl'ect  by  Mr. 
Donald  in  the  following  May;  a  housekeeper 
assuming  the  care  of  tht    children. 

The  new  home  was  in  (iermain  Street,  and 
the  house  stood  on  historic  ground.  It  was  a 
portion  of  Lot  i"21,  on  the  east  side,  a  short 
distance  south  ot  Duke  street.  On  this  lot 
originally,  was  the  tirst  place  of  worship  erected 
by  the  Loyalists  after  their  arrival  at  St.  John, 
in  J7S3.  The  building  was  used  also  for  tlu' 
sessions   of  the   courts    and    the    meetings    of   tlic 


n'  remark('(l 
It  among  us 
ral    favorite: 

kindness  of 
rospei't  and 
f  which  her 
it  also  of  ti 
her  re  litigious 
nirsclay  hist, 
although   tiic 

numerously 

lad    l)een    the 
loine  of  their 
le  for  house 
ottect  i)y  Mr. 
housekeeper 

Street,  and 
1.  It  was  :i 
side,  a  short 
In  this  lot 
irsiiip  erected 
at  St.  fJoliii. 
also  for  I  he 
itinjrs    of   tlic 


■HII 


f  r 


33 


city  council.  It  was  occupied  :is  n  clnircli  hy  the 
Episcopaliiins  mitil  Trinity  clinrch  was  coin{)lete<l, 
in  IT'.H.  In  it  were  the  royal  arms  which  had 
adorned  the  council  chaniher  of  the  Oh'  State 
House  in  lioston.  in  the  days  when  (ieoi-je  111 
was  Kino-  over  Massachusetts  as  well  as  over 
Enu-land.  When  the  old  huildiuL^  was  sohl,  the 
arms  were  removed  to  I'rinity  church,  where  they 
remained  until  the  <i-reat  tire  of  i.s77.  On  the 
latter  occasion  they  were  sjived  by  ureat  exertion. 
and  they  adorn  the  handsome  interior  of  the 
Trinity  church  of  to-day. 

When  the  Kpisco))alians  moved  to  Trinity 
church,  tile  old  buildinii'  liecaine  the  herita.ufc  of 
other  denominations.  It  was  used  tirst  l»y  the 
Baptists  and  then  by  the  Methodists,  until  ISls, 
by  which  time  l)oth  of  these  bodies  had  l)uilt 
chui'ches  of  their  own.  In  tlie  course  of  time  the 
old  meetJJi.o-  house  was  ninoved.  and  when  Mr. 
Donald  went  there  tlu>  site  w;is  occupied  by  ;i 
substantial   )»rick   mansion. 

The  Churcli  had  been  opened  in  ISl.',,  the  tirst 
sermon  beinu'  i)reached  by  Kev.  ,James  Waddell. 
The  hitter's  son.  Dr.  riolui  Waddell,  was  one  of 
the    conii-reoalion     who    welcomed    Mr.    Donald,    a 

third  of  a  century   later. 

u 


Jr' 


34 


Ik'foi-e    tlu'    Kirk    wtts    opcnod,    many    of    Hi' 
Pivsl)yU>i-i:uis     were    in     the     lial)it     of     atlondiiiL 
services   a1    Trinity    <-luuvli.      In    tlie    early    di.N^ 
indeed.  i)eoi)le  of  all    denomiiuitions    went  there  l. 
iiear  the   sermons   of   the   famous    Dr.    Byles,   wh. 
hiid  !)eon  the  hist   reetor  oi'  Christ  ehurch,   Boston, 
.hirincr    the     P.ritish     orciipation.      Before     Trinil^ 
cinireh    existed,    however,    the    (dd    meeting   hoiM 
was    "the    eluireh ""    of    St.    John.     On    the    Ian. 
around   the    Wuihlino-    was    the    tirst    hurial   o-ronii 
of  the  >ettlers.  and  thou,o-h  :dl   ext<'rnal  trace  of  i' 
h;ul    disappeared    lonu'    hefore    the    arrival    of    M: 
Donald,    yet    the    remains   of    many    of    the    earl^ 
inhabitants     lay     i)eneath    the    surface     and     wcr 
occasionally    hrouii'lit    to     li.ilht    when    ex'-avatioi. 
were    made.      Indeed,    as    late    as    ISTT,    when   lli' 
foumiation^    were     laid    for    huildinors     to    repla-^ 
those  destroyed,  hy  the  tire,    l.ones  were  unearthi' 
iiv  the  workmen. 

In  L^r.o  this  portion  of  the  city  was,  as  n  :• 
to-day.  a  choice  residential  section.  The  immedini 
neidihors  of  Mr.  Donald  were  Hon.  John  K<ii 
c-L'tM>n  and  Cyrus  K.  Fi>ke.  M.  D..  the  leadiii: 
denti'4  in  the  cilv  at  that  day.  Other  neio-hlH... 
wcrv  Hon.  llu.i!-h  ,I(»hiist()n.  junior.  Drs.  Willia!: 
and   YA^\\\\   r.avard.   Hon.   Uohert   Parker,  judov  .: 


85 


lany    of    lli' 
)t'     jittentliiiL 
early    (lii\- 
venl  tlioii'  h 
.    Bvles,   vv!( 
iircb,  Boston, 
fore     Trinity 
leeting   houv 
On    the    iiiih 
)urial   iiTouii 
lai  trace  of  i 
[•rival   of    M: 
of    the    earh 
•e     and     wcr 
n    ex'-a\  atioi: 
.77,    wiien   lli' 
•s     to     replai' 
ere  iineartlif 

'  was,  as  11  '• 
Tlie  ininieil.iiii 
n.  John  K<:i 
, .  the  ieiiMii!: 
[her  neiu'liln'.. 
Drs.  Willi;i: 
rker,  Jik'u'*'  " 


t)ie  supreme  .oiirt  and  hiter  tlic  <hief  jn>tiee: 
\Viili;mi  ().  Smith:  Colonel  Harry  Ornamd, 
I'ormcriy  of  Her  Majesty's  3otli  re.ii'iment  of  foot: 
Lii'iilcnanl-CoioiH'!  the  Hon.  .lohn  il;imiltoii  (rray. 
one  of  the  foremost  Inwyt-is  of  th<'  i)rovin('e. 
later  a  meml)er  of  the  parliiiment  of  (  anada,  and 
eveJitually  ;i  jiidiie  of  the  sii[)reme  cDiirt  of 
Briiish  ( 'ohMiil)i;i:  Dr.  William  Li\  inL^stonc;  Kev. 
I.  Iv  r,iil.  a  leadini:-  I'apli^t:  John  .Johnston, 
stipendiary  mairistrate.  and  his  l.rothor,  Charles 
Johnston,  wlio  was  afterwards  hi<i"h  --lieritt.  The 
Johnston  family  had  come  from  the  vicmity  of 
Huniix.  ,)oiin  :«.nd  Charles  were  half  liroth;  rs  of 
Hon.  Iluii'h  ,Jolinst()n.  junior,  and  their  father  was 
the  Huoh  d.hnstoii.  stnior,  who  has  alreiidy  l)een 
mentioned  ;is  ha\  irii"  i'cen  instruuH'iual  in  >ecurintj[' 
Dr.    r>iirns  :!-  ndnislcr  of  the   Kirk. 

Mr.  i)(>n;dds  later  years  were  spent  at  a  re-^i- 
denc*  in  l^i«.ian  Tiace.  a  home  of  which  m;inv  of 
the  older  mend)ers  of  the  Kirk  conii-rco-ation 
retain  pleasant   recollei/tions. 

]\Jr.     Donald     won    ihr     !ieart>    of    liis    coni^-re 
sratioii  from    the  tir-t.   and    it    t(K)k    hut    lilUe  time 
to    satisfy    the     most     criticai     th;it      the     Coloni:d 
ConunitK't^  had  alamdanliy  :ii!tici|  aled   llieir  want-. 
Just   tMniC'l  of  i'ortv.  the   new    minister   wa>-   in   the 


36 

primo  of  physical   an<l   intellectual  v^or,  ami  -.a. 
[   man    whose   face   was   an    in.lex    ot    the    kn.  1> 
,,ture   within  inm.     He    was   of    avei^ge     heijrh  . 
with  a  stout  and    well    proportioned   hgure,  wln.l, 
ho    carried    with    an     air    of    peculiar    grace    a,.l 
.licmitv.     Of  itvii-   c.onn)U'xion.    with   blue  eyes,  h. 
oiK-e  i.rown  hair  had  turned   to  gray  early  m  lih-. 
,     .inaTn.stance    that     added     to      his     impressne 
:,ppearance.     He   ha<l    a    shapely    head,   and   ahov. 
all    a  fac-e  where  the  clear   cut    lines    indicative  oi 
chara<.ter  were  softened  l.y  the    look  of  gentlenc^- 
.o    noticeable    in    this    pastor    of    his    people.     ,i 
would  be  impossible  for  a  stranger  to  look  upon  ;: 
portrait  of   the    man    without    being   impressed    Kv 
it      lie    would    pick    it    out    among    hundreds    u: 
others,  to  ask  whom  it  represented.     So  it  was  ^^  it. 
Mr    Donald  in  his  life,     lie  was   a   man   at  whom 
the  casual  passor  by  would  turn  to  look,  and  wi,o 
would  be   sinoled   out    among  a   multitude   as    on. 
of  no  conun.)n  measure   of   education,    culture   t.u. 
character.     Amply    armed    was    he    with    all    tli;'' 
was    essential    for    one    who    was   to    be   a   guide. 
counsellor  and  friend  of  a  people. 


r,  and  was 
the  kii-.<lly 
gje  hoi*i'lit. 
fiu'c,  wliifli 

grace  ami 
10  eyes,  hi> 
irly  in  lite. 

impressive 

and  alH)M 
ndicativc  oi 
i  uentlenc- 

people.  !i 
look  u})oii 
npressed  li\ 
liundreds  (H 
)  it  was  witi: 
[in  at  whom 
jk,  and  wild 
tude   as    oiH 

eidture   iiii'i 
ith    all    thti! 

be   a   guide. 


VJ 


A  Srcoml  ^l!iiTiiiir<'.--Fiifnil'liip  will)  Dr.  liriMiKc— 'I'lit- 
Fir.^t  Oiiliiiatinii  in  FriMlcrii'ton.— Traxrllini;-  in  tin- 
Kai-ly  l).iy.<.— 'I'Ih-  (  hnrrh  al  H<>llii'<ay.--Mr.  Dnualil's 
Only  Vacaticii  Tri!'. 

The  usefulness  of  a  paslov  is  iniitvrially  increased 
when  he  has  made  a    wise    rhoice    of   a   wile.      Mr. 
Donald,     having    been    deprived    of    Ids    helpmate 
and   having   ihe    eare    of  a    familv    on    his     hands, 
mi^dil   have  had  a   less  siuee^.-^fid  future  had   it   not 
been    h\>    lot    to    meet,  at    a    hiter    date,    a     hidy 
eminently    (pialiiied    to    aid    him    in    his    pastoral 
labors.     This  lady  was  Miss  Louisa  Agnes  Wilson, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Wilson.   Escpiire,  of  Kilinhurgh, 
and   then    in    the   twenty-fourth    year  of    hei'   age. 
Miss    Wilson,    who    was  at   that    tiine    residing    at 
the  house  of  Hon.   John   Robertson,  was  a   mend)er 
of    a    family   of    high    standing    in    Scotlam!.     She 
was    a    woman    naturally    gifted,    highly    cdiieated 
and    with-    many    aeeomplishments.     The    marriage 
took   plaee   on   the    '2\nh   of     dune,     ls.52.    at     Mr. 
Robertson's     resilience,    the    othciating    (dergyman 


,r 


iiciDi;'     l{c'\ .     John     M.      I)i'(»()ki'.     of     Fi'cdericlon, 
Mrs.     l)(>ii;il(l    siu'vivcMl    her    liiisltiiiid    iiiori-    llijiii   ; 
si-orc  of  yciirs,  ilyiiiif  in    Is'.ti'   ;il   llic  iiii'c  of  si\l\ 
four.      Bv    lliis    union    tlicrc     were    nine    children. 
OIK'  of  whom  died  in   infancv. 

hi 

The  nniiic  cd'  l)i'.    Hn)olvo   is  i'iiiniliar  ,         ijit  ut 
the    iinvd    cxpoiiciil    of    l*i'C'sl>ytei'ian    docli'inc    in 
Frcdi'i-ictoii    from    the    forties    to   tlic   ciji-htios.     !i 
ha>    heeii    .-aid    that  tlie    life   of    Dr.    IJrooke.    \\\\V 
that   of   Bislioi)  Medlew    would    he    a    laro-e  i)art  o' 
the  history  of  Fredc-ricton    for    half  a  eeiitiiry,   for 
he  was  a   man  iiotahle  in  all    that   pertained  to  tin 
w(dfare    ol   the  c.ipilal    city  of    the   })rovince.      .Mr, 
Brooke  and  Mr.    I)onal(l   were  warm  friends.  a})aii 
from    their    ministerial     relationships.      It    will    lu 
rememhered  that   Mr.     Donald    was  in  Frr       ictoii, 
assist inu-  Mr.    Brooke,    at    the   time   of   ll..       .dden 
death    of    his    first    wife.       Duties     in     conneetioii 
with  the  Presbytery  of  St.   Jolm  fiviiuently  called 
Mr.    Donald  to    Fredericton.    and   one  of   the  eai'ly 
notai)le  occasiims  was   in   October.    IS;")!,  when  tin 
first  ordination  of  a    Presl)yterian    minister  in  th.il 
city  took  i)lace.     Tlie   candidate   Avas   Rev.   F"ranci> 
Xicol,    of    Halifax.     Mr.    Donald    lu-esided    at    tlu- 
l)ublic  services,    and  preached    what   the  papers  of 
that    day    styled    ''an    excellent    and    appropriatt 


3» 


Frcdoricluii 

MIOIV     tllilll     ; 

iiu'c  of  sixlv 
line    children. 

inr  .  i!i(  (it 
I  (ioctriric  in 
ciji'litios.  !i 
Ui'ookc.  Willi 
l;irav  [)iirt  (*' 

I  ('cntiirv,  In 
I'laiiKMl  to  ila 
rovince.  Mi' 
friends,  jipiiii 
.      It    will    I, 

Frr        ietoii. 
f   ll:.       .videi! 

II  conneetioi! 
[uently  callcti 

of  the  eai'ly 
51,  when  tin 
iiister  in  th.it 
Rev.  Fnuiri- 
dded  iit  tile 
he  papers  of 
appropriiitc 


discourse,"'  I'roin  St.  John  \ll.  !»;•.  ••  I  .mi  conic 
a  liii'ht  into  the  world,  thai  w  lia1-ne\  er  lielii'\cth 
on  nic  -hoidd  not  aliidc  in  darkness."  Mr. 
Donald  nia<!e  an  earn  .-.1  address  t<i  the  \i)iniii' 
minisirr  on  the  nature  of  the  duties  he  had 
undertaken,  and  to  the  '•on.vreii'at  ion  (Hi  tiieir 
re8i)onsil)ilities  as  inen)liers  of  the  church  and 
hearers  (d'  the   Word. 

Dnrinir  the  many  years  of  hi-  ministry.  Mr. 
Donald  had  fre(|Uent  occasion  to  ti'a\(d  io  distant 
parts  of  the  pro\  iiK  e.  in  hi>  altciidarice  at  ciiurch 
courts  and  on  other  work  in  the  connection  with 
the  Prr<l)yteries  of  St.  dolui  and  Mir.-iniichi.  At 
the  i)resent  day.  such  journey>  niay  he  attended 
with  the  luxury  of  modern  ti';i\(>l.  Itut  tor  xcars 
after  Mr.  Donald  hecanie  minister  of  the  Kirk 
the  facilities  for  tra\-eHinir  were  of  the  primitive 
kind,  involvino-  hoth  discomfort  and  dehiy.  It 
wa^  not  dlliicult  to  u'o  to  Freilericton  in  the  sum- 
mer, foi-  the  distance  of  ^4  miles  was  made  easy 
by  a  ,-Ntea!nl)oat  route  on  a  ri\(>r  famed  for  the 
beauty  of  its  scenery,  Imt  durino-  the  winter  the 
journey  had  to  be  accom))lislied  oxcrland.  in  all 
kinds  of  weather  and  with  ad  conditions  of  roads. 
It  was.  at  iiest,  a  weary  pilo-rimaue  sometimes 
requirinii'  two  days,  and  tliere  was  no  better  mode 


4-0 


of  tn-vel  (luring  tlie  active  years  of  Mr.  DonaUrs 
ministry.  It  was  not  until  a  year  or  so  before 
his  death  that  there  was  throuo-h  railway  eonimu- 
nieation  between  Fredericton  and  St.  John.  To 
reaoh  St.  Andjews.  in  suninier  or  winter,  was 
another  stao-e  coaeh  journey  of  <ir.  miles,  though 
(.:ii'  coidd  get  there  l»y  steaml);;at  by  way  of 
Eastport,  Maine.  Miramiehi  and  all  of  the  (iulf 
shore  of  the  province  was  still  further  removed 
from  St.  John.  From  the  latter  city  to  New- 
castle W!is  nearly  '2W  miles  by  highway.  It  was 
not  until  IStJO  that  there  was  a  railway  availabh 
for  even  half  the  distance,  and  Miramiehi  itself 
was  not  connected  with  St.  John  Dy  rail  until 
1875,  or  more  than  four  years  after  Mr.  Donahl 
had  passed  away.  It  was  Nvell  for  him  that  he 
was  naturailN  an  :ictive  man  and  a  hard  worker, 
for  there  was  much  in  the  round  of  his  duties, 
vear  after  year,  that  demanded  all  hie  strength. 
His  holidays  were  few  and  short,  and  the 
constant  care  and  exertion  told  on  even  his  robust 
constitution.  Tnv  etlect  of  his  labors  on  his 
health  was  apparent  by  tiie  tlr-ie  he  had  reached 
his  sixtieth  year,  and  he  died  at  sixty -three. 
Under  more  favorable  conditions  he  should  have 
lived  many  years  longer,    perhaps  even  to  the  age 


^4«M.' 


/ 


Jk*^       Jt^4*^i^t4^4^ 


y/i 


'-■^ 


;;^-tw;>i  t.i>*  ,Uj!A.  J*t-'- 


i:U'.M 


/ 


•'^•^  j^.J*i4ei..^ 


f^-'- 


-:^. 


"4-.    /• 


>','i^-  i<« 


</^^ri.j. 


V ' 


:i  il 


t 


<*^  ^**'.*<  .'WV  ' 


^^. 


-^'  <itli.^- 


"'W 


of  tilt 

(lied 

oisrht;^ 


41 


of  the  first  minister  of  the  Kirlv.  Dr.  Burns,  who 
(lied  in  Kdinhiiro;!!.  in  1S74.  at  the  :ii>o  of 
eighty-six. 

Mr.  Donald  was  a  zealous  worker  in  whatever 
he  undertook,  and  an  instance  of  this  was  siiown 
in  his  etfort  to  establish  and  maintain  a  I^reshy- 
terian  chureh  at  Hothesay.  This  vijlatje. 
beautifully  situated  nine  miles  from  St.  ,!ohn.  is 
now  the  place  of  suburban  residence  of  a  number 
of  prominent  St.  .John  families.  Amoiiu"  tlie 
Presl>yierians  livino;  there  in  the  early  sixties  was 
Hon.  John  Koberts(m,  and  with  his  ai<i  Mr. 
Donald  started  a  ♦■hureh  there,  which  was  in  the 
nature  of  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  Andrew's 
church.  Public  worship  wa-  held  there  Simday 
afternoons,  Mr.  Donald  drivinii'  from  the  city 
after  mornino-  service  at  the  Kirk  and  returnino;- 
in  time  for  evenino-  service.  Later,  after  the 
huddino-  of  St.  Ste])hen's  church  in  St.  .!ohn, 
IJev.  G.  J.  Caie  assisted  in  the  work  at  Hothesay. 
The  service  was  maintained  during-  Mr.  Donald V 
life  time,  and  for  some  years  after  his  death.  I»ut 
the  lal)or  was  never  crowned  with  the  success 
that  Mr.  Dcmald  and  others  had  anticipated. 
While  the  poiiuhition  of  Kothesav  increased  year 
l)y     year,     the     Presbyterians    did     not     iirow     in 


i» 


4l^ 

proportioiitile  number.  Jind  the  biiildino;  tinally 
beeame  the    [)r<)i)ertv   of   the   Church    of    Encfhind. 

Mr.  DoiuiM's  only  vacation  trip  to  his  native 
lantl  was  in  1S04,  when  he  went  in  a  sailin<)f  ship, 
accompanied  by  one  of  his  sons,  and  remained 
four  months.*  On  the  eve  of  his  (le})arture,  April 
L'nth.  I8<)4.  he  was  presented  with  a  purse  of 
S4(>(»,  the  gift  of  his  cono-reji'ation.  On  his  return 
from  Scotland,  he  was  welcomed  with  another 
presentation,  that  of  ;"n  easy  chair  and  carpet  for 
his  study.  the  irift  of  members  of  the 
c()n<ireo'ation. 

Durino-  the  absence  of  Mr.  Donald,  the  pulpit 
was  occu})ied  by  Hev.  Prof.  Mowat,  of  (Queen's 
ITniversity,  Ivin<>'ston,  a  tiifted  preacher  and 
a  brother  of  Sir  Oliver  Mowat,  now  Minister  of 
Justice  of  Canada. 


1. 


*  Thopassatro  to  Liverpool  was  made  in  the  Baniue  "Proteus,"  Cap- 
tain .lorgensen,  and  ofcupieil  t\ve!ity-one  days.  Thero  were  no  other  pas- 
sentrcrs.  llelurniny.  hMcaniu  out  in  the  SS.  "Arabia'"  to  Halifax,  N.  S..aiul 
tlioy  had  a  very  rough  passage.  Other  passi^ngers  included  iVIr.  .lames 
MaiK'hestiT,  (of  Manchester.  Kol)erts(ui  &  Allison),  anil  Mr.  John  \'assie. 
(of  J.  Vassie  &  Co.)  both  of  -Si.  .lolin.  Dr.  Donald  had  services  on  board 
on  Sunday  for  the  passengers  and  crew,  and  among  his  audience  were 
two  Roman  Catholic  priests.  This  incident  is  characteristic  of  liis 
unsectarian  views,  on  account  of  which  he  was  popular  with  all  classes 
ill  St.  John,  from  Bishop  Sweeney  of  the  K.  C.  Cathedral  to  members  ol 
denominations  of  extremely  opposite  views.  After  visiting  relative^ 
(by  mai'riage)  the  Elmigers,  at  Liverpool,  he  went  to  Edinburgh.  lb 
me'  'here  Mrs.  (.4eorge  Kerr,  and  daughter  Miss  liessie,  from  Chatham, 
N.  H.  He  then  visited  Glasgow.  Aberdeen,  Huntly,  Kolhiemay,  and 
Crange.  At  Aberdeen  he  visited  Mai'ischal  College  once  more.  Hi^ 
holiilay  was  not  much  more  than  three  months  altogether,  including  the 
passages  across. 


VJl. 


Til 


'i'illt'      >>\'      Duflt'l'      nf      |> 


M  niii\ 


A      i;,rc     II. 


iiidi'. —  Di" 


I) 


ii!l;lH 


p))'Mram-<'    :i 


Srll'i|;i|'     iiipl      l''|i(.|!ij 

i;i|     Wiiv-     ;i-     :i      I'r 


'illi-;l(l'Mi.— - 


Hi. 


I'lichcr. 


Millie 


lllil.- 


Irativt'  Aiiccddlt'^. 


FoK  a  third  oi'  n  (•cuiiirv  the  ii.-mu-  of  "'l)!'. 
Doiial'i'"  has  i)t'(.'ii  so  j'amiliar  lo  the  vnv  an>l  cnc 
oi'  the  j>eo[)le  of  S1.  ,lohn  that  ono  is  iiu  iiiieil  to 
associaic  the  tilh'  of  hciiior  with  that  leanied 
mairs  \'-hoh'  oart'or.  'I'liis  inijji'ession  is  as  natural 
with  lh(>s('  who  knew  him  a>  with  the  voiinu'cr 
t'-ciuiation  who  have  only  the  tradilicus  of  his 
Jifc  aii'i  lahoi's.  The  title,  iihieed.  would  ha\e 
lifted  him  from  tlu  oiitsrt  oi  his  work  in  the 
minislr;;.  for  hv  was  a  >eho!ar.  in  a  hin-h  sense  of 
li)e  term,  when  he  enme  ainont>-  tlie  j)eo})Ie  as 
plahi  "^Ir.  Doimld. '"  He  was  an  earnest  student 
from  the  he2'iHnino'  of  his  career  to  (he  end  of 
Ids  (hiy.s. 

\\'hen  (hieenV  l^'u'versitv.  of  Kinu-ston.  eon- 
ferred  on  Mr.  Donald  the  honorary  de^Tee  of 
l)(ctor    of    Divinity,    in    A[)ril.     1S<;1.    it     was   no 


I 


44 


u 


more  than  n  just  rocoofnition  of  his  scholarship 
and  ability,  and  its  action  received  the  apj)ro- 
hation  of  a  hiru'e  circle  beyond  that  of  the 
cono-reo-ation  of  the  Kirk.  Mr.  Donald  was  not 
only  educationally  (inalified  for  the  title,  but  he 
was  a  representative  minister,  holding  a  eharo-e 
of  no  small  importance  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
It  is  no  disparao-ement  to  the  learned  doctors  of 
recent  years  to  say  that,  in  Ncav  BrunsAviek  at 
least,  such  honorary  de,o-rees  had  a  greater  signifi- 
cance with  the  pul)lic  than  they  now  have  or  can 
have.  The  title  of  Doctor  was  more  exceptional 
then,  and  the  holder  of  it  was  regarded  by  many 
with  a  certain  amoiuit  of  awe  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  always  a  notable  man  in  other  respects. 
Dr.  (iray.  the  rector  of  Trinity  church,  for 
instance,  was  a  famous  man  of  his  time,  and  so 
was  Dr.  Matthew  Hichey.  of  the  Methodist 
church,  to  say  nothing  of  tlie  reverence  of  the 
name  of  Dr.  Burns,  of  the  Kirk.  Drs.  Gray  and 
Uicliey  were  the  only  Doctors  of  Divinity  resident 
in  St.  John  when  Mr.  Donald  received  the  honor. 
Dr.  Paterson,  the  erudite  principal  of  the  Graiu- 
mar  School,  was  the  great  LL. D..  and  in  the 
eyes  of  old  and  young  lie  seemed  to  personify 
all  that  the  term  implied. 


<i 


45 


s- 


Dr.  Donald  was  a  mnn  who  would  have  stood 
out  in  relief  as  a  scholar  in  a  parliament  of 
>rhohirs.  Trained  on  the  solid  basis  of  the  Scotch 
schools  and  colle.ires  of  the  enrly  part  of  the 
century,  he  had  been  m  worthy  recipient  of  tiie 
(le<i-ree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  his  alma  mater. 
There  was  no  royal  road  to  learnino-  ihon.  and 
when  a  man  aspired  to  a  dea-ree  he  liad  to  work 
for  it.  This  was  especially  true  of  the  Scotch 
universities,  and  anions-  them  of  Marischal 
Colleo-e,  Aberdeen. 

Dr.  Donald  was  not  only  a  learned  man  and  :i 
lifeiono-  student,  but  his  heart  was  in  the  work  of 
the  education  of  others.  Havina-  been  a  >cIiool- 
luaster,  he  continued  to  recall  his  past  by  the 
interest  he  took  in  the  schools  of  St.  John,  lie 
was  one  of  the  "  lioard  of  the  (iovcrnors  and 
Trustcics  of  the  Madras  School."  a  l)ody  of  \ cry 
;irave  and  reverend  seio-niors,  consisting  ofti-iniiy 
of  the  Lieutenant-CTOvernor.  the  Hishoj)  of  the 
(  hurch  of  England  in  New  lirunswick.  the  niein- 
iicr-;  of  Her  Majesty's  (omicil.  the  Jiidax'  of 
Adnuralty,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Assembly,  the  Mayor  and  Recorder  of  St.  John 
•Mul  the  Rector  and  \^';lrden^  of  Trinity  church, 
with    such    other     leadina"     nien     as     Rev.     Canon 


■■« 


4t; 


Scovil.  \\'illi:uii  W'riii'hl.  .Vdvocalc-fu'iicnil.  mikI 
otlitTs  whose  ntiiiics  nw  :i  \n\v\  of  llic  history  o! 
the  city, 

'Hie     (iraiuiiiiii'     School      l.ccinl       \\;is      nnothcr 

iiiiportniil     lio'ly    ot      which      Dv.      Ooiuihl      was     ;i 

Jiieinher.        Ihv      hiw     established     the     Kectoi'     oj 

Trinity  as  ils  presiiieiit  and  the  Maytu'  ot  the  cit_\ 

as     its     vic<>-[)i'e>ident.     with    the     Iveccd'der    of    the 

cit\'    a     menilter    of    the    hoard    hy     \irtue    of    id'- 

otHce.     Associated   vitl;    I  )r.     Donald    on  this   l»oard 

were     sucli     men     as     Jiidji'e      Parker.      Ad\-ocat(-- 

(xeneral     Wright,     lion.     John      11.     (ir.iy.     Canon 

Scovil   and   Dr.     Li\in<>stone.     Tiiis    stdiool   was  not 

only  amonii:  the  ohiest    Um    conllniied  lo  iu-  ainon^: 

the    most    eilicienl    in    the    ])ro\ince.     (he    phice    ot' 

education  of    many    whose    lUtUK'S    are    an«l    will    lie 

conspicuous    in    the    annals    of     the    coujitry.      So 

far    as    i,s     known.    ;:d'ier    Dr.     Dontdd     hccanie    n 

niend)er  of  the   l)oar<i.   lie    never  misse<l  attendance 

at  the  send-a,nnu;d  cxan.ii)i;!tions.  mid   in  addrcssinu 

till'    [)U))ils    on    one   of    these    occasi(,ns.     in    fJuiu, 

Ist!,").    he    state<l    that    it    wa^    the    thirtieth     exauii 

nation    at     which     he     had     deeii     ()i'e-('n1.       it      i- 

douhtful     if     any     hut      the      most      exi  :;ioi'dinarv 

cir<'umstances  could   ii,",-e   kept  Inm  away,      ('ertaiii 

it   is    that    he    was  jii    attendance    at     the    (Irammai' 


School,  as  iisiinl.  on  his  woddino-  (|;,y.  in  Jmie. 
l.sr)2.  tlioii.irh  }i  iiiiiii  U'ss  (k"('j)l,v  intcrestt'd  in  the 
raii:^e  of  oducatioii  inijj-ht  rcasoiiahly  have  askod 
1o  Itc  excused  from  a'iviiii:  his  lime  io  (ireek 
Latin,  verbs,  nouns  and  adjectives,  on  an  orr:ision 
of  sucli   moment  in  his  own  lite. 

Not  only  on  examination  days.  I»iit  at  fre(|iient 
intervals  during-  the  terms.  Dr.  Donald  was  a 
\  isitor  to  the  schools.  His  was  no  perfunctory 
attendance,  hut  one  due  to  an  earnest  interest  in 
education.  He  was  a  welcome  visitor,  for  he  had 
always  somethlno-  to  say  which  the  Itoys  were 
o-lad  to  hear,  and  when  there  was  anythino-  like  a 
sutHcient  reason,  he  would  Wrino-  delia'ht  hy 
declarino-  a  half  holiday. 

Witli  all  Dr.  Donald's  scholarship),  there  was 
nothinsT  of  the  pedant  al)out  him.  He  made  no 
cHort  to  please  his  cona"re<j:ation  i»y  ornate 
preachino-.  He  had  the  hia-Ji  icieal  that  1lic  dutv 
of  a  minister  was  to  si'uide  and  couf.  "i  his  [xople. 
not  only  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  h\  h\>  wor<ls  in 
llie  pulpit,  hut  to  l)e  their  pastor  and  friend  from 
day  to  day  throuo-liout  the  year.  It  was  eminently 
as  a  pastor  that  he  was  deal'  to  his  conirreaation. 
llis  sermons  were  graceful  in  their  con,  tructlon 
and    they    abounded    with    forceful    Io<iJc.    I»ul    \\v 


48 


never  preached  for  cft'ect.  or  witli  tlie  idea  of 
wiimiiiiT  :i  repiitiition  as  a  speaker.  He  simply 
saw  his  (hity  and  sotiiiht  lo  a('('oiiii>lish  it.  Kvery 
sermon  was  careiidly  prepared,  for  he  had  never 
trained  himself  to  imi)r(>mptti  spoakin*:-.  and  he 
never  l)uilt  a  sermon  lo  please  the  passinn-  fancy 
liy  dealin<:'  with  sensations  of  th(>  day.  His 
sermons  mio-ht  he  called  old  fashioned  in  these 
times,  hut  they  were  earnest  expositions  of  helief, 
und  strictly  in  iiccord  with  the  tenets  of  the 
Kst;d)lished  Church  of  Scotland. 

Dr.  Donald  h)ved  to  preach  of  (iod's  nien-y. 
rather  than  of  His  wrath.  His  appeals  were  that 
men  should  he  christians  throuijrh  love,  and  not 
throu*i-h  fear.  Controversy,  in  the  |)ulpit  or  out 
of  il.  was  far  removed  from  his  nature.  When 
he  was  :ittacked.  a>  iiapiH'ned  on  rare  occasicms. 
he  o-ained  the  iireater  mora!  victory  by  refrainin<:- 
from  the  retort  which  he  was  amply  (pialitied  to 
oive.  On  one  occa>ion.  ;i  minister  of  another  city 
church  assailed  him  in  a  series  of  letters  to  a 
newspa])er,  in  the  e.\i)ectation  of  ))rovokin»>-  him 
to  a  reply.  Dr.  Donald  made  no  answer.  I»u1 
shortly  after  the  letters  had  ceased,  he  nu>t  the 
writer  of  them,  on  the  street,  and  sU)[)i)ed  to 
speak  to  him.     The    assailant,    douhtless.    expected 


tread. 


40 


■^ 

1 


to  hjive  a  vcrhul   contliei   thon    and   tlicrc,   lail   Dr. 

Donald,     sinilintr     pleasantly,      nicroly     roi.iarlu-1, 

'•Now,    Mr.    H ,    since    you    havo    tivod   your 

system  of  so    much    hile,    I.    lioi)e  you    are  feelintr 

very  mneh  better."' 

Those  who  remendter  Dr.    Donald  in  the  pulpit 

reeall    the    absolute  majesty   o+'    the     man  in     the 

cxereise  of  his    ministerial   funeticms.     lie  realized 

to  the   fullest    measure   the   dio-nity  ot'  his  callinuf, 

and    Ids    ap[)earanee    impre^ised   the    idea    of    that 

dio-nity    upon    others.     As    the    hour    approached, 

the   expectant    eonffrciration    would   tix   their   a'aze 

oil    the     doorway     Avhieh     led     from     the     vestry. 

Presently    the    door    would    oj)en    and    the    sexton 

would     emeriie,     cariyino-    the     lar<>:e    F)il)le    with 

a-reat    solemnity.     Ascending-    the   stairway    to   the 

liio'h  pulpit,  he  would    i)lace   the  book  in  [)osition, 

descend  the  stairway  and  take  his  ])osition  at  their 

foot  like  a  soldier   at   attention.     A    few    moments 

Inter    Dr.    Donald    would    enter   from    the    vestry. 

Dressed  in  irown  and  l)ands,  with  black  kid  ifloves 

upon  his  folded  hands,  he  would  walk  with  stately 

tread,    his    tine    fio-ure    erect,     his     head     crrandly 

[)osed  and   his   eyes   ohuicino-  neither   to   the    rig"ht 

Dor   left.     Slowly   advancino-  across   the   platform. 

he    would    ascemi    the    •stairway    as    a    king-    niiiilit 

1) 


I(    '•' 


60 

h;ivc  mounted  to  his  lliroiu-,  mikI  would  take  his 
,„,sili(«n  in  thr  pulpit.  Wlien  this  hud  been  done, 
Ih,.  sexton  would  :i,2-:iiii  ;iM-end  the  stops,  (doso  the 
,lo,,r  (,t'  the  pulpit  behind  the  luinister,  descend 
the  stiiiruny  and  retire.  A!)  this,  done  in  the 
ino-t  diLnii!ie<l  niiinner.  was  sinijularly  im])russive, 
;ind  thouiih  witnessed  .S;il)l):itii  after  Sabbath,  it 
Dcvei-  et'ase.l  to  inspire  the  eono-reojjition  as  a 
cerenionial  ol'  pi'cuUar  solenniity. 

Dr.  Donald,  while  the  eiulK.dinient  of  diornity 
in  \\w  pidpit,  ha. I  a  way  ot  uiakincr  ti  point  by 
i)rinLnni:"  hunioi'  to  his  aid.  An  instant,,  of  this 
was  witnessed  durinu-  what  was  known  as  the 
'•ora'an  controversy."  in  l^^'iT.  Up  to  that 
perio(!,  no  instrument  of  music  had  been  allowed 
in  the  church,  but  in  the  evolution  of  popular 
sentimcn.t  a  lar^e  number  of  tiie  e,on,irre<>-ation 
eneaiied  in  a  movement  to  secure  ;in  ora'tm.  On 
tile  -JMrd  of  Ma\  m  tiiat  year,  ii  petition  in  favor 
of  instrunuMilai  music,  signed  iiy  l^lO  members 
and  adherents,  was  presented  to  the  Kirk  Session, 
and  on  the  20)li  ot  dune,  it  appearino-  that  l<»i' 
conur:unicants  favored  the  petition  and  only 
thirteen  opposed  it.  the  Session  resolved  that  th,' 
praver  be  iiTanVed.  Iv  was  clearly  stated,  how- 
ever, that  this  nuisic  was  simply  to  be  used  as 


I 


■i 


51 


It 


aid  to  the  voicie,  nnd  that  it  was  to  lie  wholly 
umler  the  control  of  tiie  Kirk  Session.  This 
meant  that  not  only  was  it  not  [)ennissihle 
to  play  voluntaries  before,  durinj:-  or  after  the 
service,  hut  that  the  oroanist  could  not  even  play 
over  the  tune  before  the  choir  be<ran  to  sinL^  or 
in  the  intervals  between  the  verses.  Those  who 
know  of  the  tine  nmsic  in  the  St.  Andrew's 
church  of  to-day  can  understand  the  ])ro<rress  that 
has  been  made  in  this  rest)eet  durin^r  the  last 
thirty  years. 

The  or<ran  Avas  jjurchased,  at  a  cost  of  >;j,()(Mi 
and  the  l)reaeh  in  the  contrreo-ation  was  less 
serious  than  some  had  anticipated.  Only  two 
families  withdrew,  thouo-h  some  others  wiio 
remained  continued,  for  a  time,  to  make  a  silent 
jjrotest  by  sittina'  durin<r  the  sin<>-in<r  while  all  the 
others  stood.  On  the  first  Sabl)ath  that  the  ori>an 
was  heard.  Dr.  Donald  gave  out  the  OL  Psalm, 
in  metre.  The  tirst  two  verses  of  this  he  read  in 
ills  usual  manner,  but  when  he  came  to  the  third 
verse  he  changed  his  tone  to  the  brt»ad  Seotch 
and  rolled  out  the  words 

"  Pniise  liim  with  trumpet's  sound;  his  piaist-  witli 

psiiltery  advance 
Witli  timbrel,  harp,  string'il  instruments,  and  oikjans 

in  the  dance." 

D2 


■PIP 


52 


Even  \\w  oi)i»()]ionts  of  tlio  oriran  foil  that  a 
poliil  lia<i  Iktii  ,-r()iX'(l  na-aiiisl  tlioni,  wbilc  the 
etfcci  oil  the  ivst  ol'  tlu'  t-oiiirroirution  was 
c'iv'i-lrical.  ll  nas  Iho  more  mai'kod  from  the  fact 
that  Dr.  DonaM's  huliit  w:is  to  s})eak  in  pure 
Kiiii'Iish,  -.(M(loin  ns'niii'  even  a  St-oteli  i)lir:ise. 
unless  to  illustrate  :iii  aiieolote. 

As  a  preacher,  i)r.  l)onal(rs  diction  was 
polished  ;Uid  his  deliverv  iini)ressive.  He  wa.- 
especialh-  earnest  in  his  [>rayers,  and  his  laniruaa-e 
at  such  times  iiad  a  streni2-ih  because  of  its  very 
simplicity.  One  of  his  supplications  which  is  veil 
remen!l>ered  was.  ""O  Lord,  renienilier  thine 
ancient  [)eoi)le  the  ,Jews/"  Another  petition 
whicii  he  frciiueiitly  used  was  ••Ilelj)  us  so  to 
li^.e  as  we  may  wish  we  had  lived  when  we  come 
to  die."  In  these  seventeen  words  t)f  clear-cut 
Saxon  is  emhodieil  the  desire  of  all  who  seek  to 
ser\e  (iod  hi  this  world  with  the  hope  of  a 
rcNvard  in  the  worh'  to  come. 


Vlll. 

Dr.  Donald's  ChararUM-  as  a  Pastor.— His  WOrK  aiiioii"-  the 
Sick  and  Destitute. — The  Cliolt'ra  \'fai-.--r!Kii»laiii  to 
the  'rroo])s. — Soci;il  Characfrristics.— 'I'hf  Curler^  and 
tlie    St.    Andrew's    Soeielv. — 'I'lie    Volunteer    Movement. 


!v 


Du.  DoNAr.i),  wliik'  n  sound  jx-cMchri'.  w.ts  ni'ONc 
all  a  i)ra(lioal  pastoi'  who  kept  in  loiicJ!  with  his 
people.  It  was  hy  his  visits  to  the  honics  tiiai  he 
endeared  hiniselt'  to  all  classes  of  the  cono-reo-iiion. 
and  his  pid[)ii  ellorts  were  aniono-  the  least  of  his 
duties.  Where  sorrow,  sickness  or  deatii  had 
entered,  there  he  found  his  mission,  and  a  case 
of  sull'erino;  drew  from  him  all  the  symi)alhy  of 
his  kindly  nature.  On  such  o»-casions.  he  \\a>  not 
a  mail  of  many  words,  nor  of  words  nloiic  where 
deeds  were  needed.  \\'hen  he  uave  counsel  or 
soutrht  to  l)ring  comfort,  it  was  not  so  much  what 
he  said  that  [)rove(l  ellectixe  as  it  was  the  way  in 
which  he  said  it.  Of  far  lircatcr  jjowcr  than  his 
wortls  were  his  simi)le,  eainest  w:iy>.  as  he 
heeame  for  the  time  the   sharer   of  the  hurdens  of 


msm 


•^4 

others.  He  Avas  in  perfect  sympathy  Avith  those 
who  sought  to  strengthen  or  to  soothe,  and  they 
Avere  strengthened  and  soothed  because  they 
realized  that  in  hiin  they  had  a  friend. 

While  the  congregation  of  the  church  ^va8  of  a 
well  to  do  class,  there  Avere  in  it,  as  in  all 
congregations  people  of  slender  means,  and  there 
Avere  instances  where  the  sickness  of  the  bread- 
Avinner  of  a  family  meant  the  need  of  an  economy 
so  close  that  really  needful  artifdes  were  beyond 
the  siiderers"'  reach.  Dr.  Donald  had  a  keen  eye 
for  such  cases,  and  was  prompt  to  relieve  them 
in  such  delicate  Avays  as  to  give  Avorthy  people 
no  feeling  that  they  were  the  recipients  of  formal 
charity.  Not  only  Avas  his  own  larder  levied 
upon,  hut  the  larders  antl  well  stocked  cellars  of 
such  men  as  Francis  Ferguson  and  the  lion.  John 
Kobertson  were  opened  at  his  bidding.  Many  a 
hamper  of  such  nourishing  food  as  the  invalids 
needed,  and  many  a  bottle  of  wine  which  royalty 
might  have  coveted,  thus  found  its  way  to  the 
households  of  those  to  whoui  it  meant  a  rencAval 
of  sti'ength.  In  these  and  other  Avays  it  Avas 
the  tlelight  of  the  Doctor  to  go  about  doing  good, 
yet  letiing  not  his  left  hand  knoAv  what  his  right 
hand  accomjjlished. 


iit 


fill 


HHBaas 


66 


The  sumiiier  of  \s:,i  was  iDonionihlc  fivmi  \hv 
visit.'ition  of  the  Asiatic  cliolcra,  \viiicli  ciuiscd 
more  than  twelve  liuiidred  deaths  in  Si.  John  ninl 
its  vieinity.  This  tryiui)-  ])eri()d  hroiiulil  its 
experiences  to  Dr.  Donald,  as  to  other  city 
clvrtryinen,  thou<»])  the  sconri>'e  did  not  have  its 
strono-liold  ainonjr  the  Scotch  },e(i))le.  Durina-  the 
whole  of  that  dreiid  season  [)y.  Donald  remained 
in  the  city,  o-oino-  freely  into  tlic  infected 
districts,  aiding-  the  si(d<,  comforting  the  dying 
and  burying  the  dead.  For  nearly  two  months 
the  fearful  epidemic  raged,  business  was  to  a 
great  extent  susj)ended,  tmd  the  workinu'  (dasses 
had  little  or  no  means  of  earning  a  li.iiig-.  1'hc 
j^i'ospect  of  great  and  general  dest'^^ution  was  so 
alarming  that  i)ublic  meetings  were  held  and  a 
conunittee  aj)pointed  to  relieve  the  <lestitnte.  Dr. 
Donald  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  this 
committee,  by  the  active'  work  ot'  wliich  much 
sutfering"  was  relieved  and  })ri)\  ision  .uade  for 
the  future. 

(Quietly  carrying  on  his  pasiortd  work.  Di'. 
Donald  did  not  strive  to  come  to  the  front  in 
general  public  mo\ements.  lie  was  a  worker. 
rather  than  a  talker,  and  he  was  not  given  lo 
public  speaking  ujdess  it    was    (brcctly    in  the  line 


li 


5= 


56 


)■  , 


of  his  duty.  In  practical  work,  however,  his 
voice  was  not  silent  and  his  counsel  commanded 
attention.  One  of  the  movements  in  which  he 
took  a  deep  interest  was  the  work  of  the  Female 
Keform  Society,  in  connection  with  a  Home  for 
Fallen  A\'omen,  of  Avhich  body  he  was  the 
vice-president. 

Mention  has  heen  made  of  the  way  in  which 
some  of  the  wealthy  citizens  were  glad  to  aid  him 
in  his  good  works.  Among  these  Avere  some  out- 
side of  his  c(mgregatioii.  Dr.  Donald's  friends, 
indeed,  included  many  prominent  members  of  the 
Church  of  England,  such  as  Canon  Scovil,  Hon. 
K.  Ij.  Hazen  and  others.  Lot  only  did  his 
position  as  a  minister  of  the  Established  Church 
of  Scotland  give  iiini  a  social  prestige,  but  he 
was  a  chaplain  to  the  forces,  having  such  appoint- 
ment from  the  Imi)erial  authorities,  and  the  Kirk 
was  the  garrison  chajjcl  for  the  Presbyterians 
among  the  regiments  stationed  in  St.  John  from 
time  to  time.  The  ofticers*  pew,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  main  floor,  was  distinguished  by 
being  raised  a  step  above  the  others.  On  Sunday 
mornings  the  men  in  garrison  would  be  told  olf 
in  three  detachments,  one  of  which  would  be 
marched    to     Trinity     church,     another     to     St. 


57 


Mahichi's  (Ctitliolir)  and  in  laU'r  years  the 
Cathedral,  while  the  tliird  would  oo  to  St. 
Andrew's  church,  wliere  it  occujjicd  the  north 
guUery.  The  h(st  rea'iment  st;dione<i  in  St.  John 
l)efore  the  lin:).l  withdmwal  of  the  Imperial 
troops,  was  the  Tstli  llio-idanders,  under  Major 
Warren,  and  a  detachment  (d'  it  formed  the  cseoxl 
at  Dr.   Donahl's  funeral. 

While  Dr.  Donald  had  thus  an  otHcitd  standinfif 
in  the  community,  still  more  did  his  courtly  man- 
ners and  o'enial  dis])osition  make  him  a  welcome 
o'uest  in  what  were  the  exclusive  i-ircles  at  ;i  time 
when  the  lines  of  social  demarcation  were  more 
strictly  detined  than  at  the  present  day.  He,  in 
his  turn,  was  the  soul  of  hos])itality.  and  the 
doors  of  his  house  were  opened  wide  to  his  many 
friends.  The  Doctor  and  his  accomplished  wife 
were  entertainers  of  rare  ability.  From  the  day 
of  his  arrival,  indeed,  he  wow  the  aiVection  of  all 
classes,  for  he  could  a(hii)t  himself  to  any 
company  in  Avliich  he  was  placed.  \\'hilc  literally 
a  gentleman  and  a  scholar,  there  was  notliina'  of 
stitfness  or  pedantry  in  his  nature,  and  he  was 
far  removed  from  the  traditional  and  se\erely 
rio-id  type  of  tlic  Scotch  Preshyterirui  minister  of 
the  olden  time.     He   shone    in    society,    and    couhi 


58 


Ijotl)  tell  iind  enjoy  a  g-ootl  story.  Not  long  after 
his  arrival  in  St.  John  he  officiated  at  an  evening 
at  the  house  of  a  prominent  member  of  his 
congregation.  The  host  \\'as  hospital )le,  and  there 
^vas  such  an  abundance  of  good  cheer  that  the 
hearts  of  some  of  the  guests  were  matle  unusually 
glad.  One  gentleman,  a  leading  merchant,  who 
was  not  a  Presbyterian,  was  so  pleased  to  find 
the  minister  of  the  Kirk  such  an  affable  ami 
genial  man  that  he  enthusiastically  slapped  him 
on  the  back,  exchiiming  in  tones  of  admiration, 
"Mr.  Donald,  you  are  a  brick  I  ■"  Some  of  the 
guests  stood  horrified,  but  Mr.  Donald  smilingly 
accepted  the  compliment  in  the  spirit  in  which  it 
was  intended. 

Dr.  Donald  was  the  chaplain  of  the  St. 
Andrew's  Society,  and  a  willing  worker  in  all 
that  pertained  to  its  interests.  All  that  belonged 
to  Scotland  and  its  people  was  dear  to  him,  and 
he  was  a  member  of  the  first  curling  club  which 
was  organized  in  St.  John.  In  tliose  days  the 
curlers  were  almost  Avholly  native  born  Scotch- 
men and  it  Avas  more  strictly  a  national  game 
than  it  is  in  these  times.  The  first  curling  in  St. 
John  Avas  by  the  officers  of  the  72nd  Regiment, 
which  Avas  stationed  in  this  garrison  from  1851  to 


wf.p-"'.',v'':jt"  L-i'VTJ'i'jirjf, .' 


-.  I     r'yys^mmB 


59 


1854.  They  had  the  stones  niiule  l)y  Peter 
Cormack,  a  city  stonecutter,  and  at  times  mem- 
bers of  the  8t.  Andre^v  V  Society  joined  with  the 
officers  in  the  «ranie.  When  the  reirinicnt  leit  St. 
John,  the  stones  were  gixtm  to  the  St.  Andrew's 
Society,  and  tlie  first  U)cal  curling  club  was 
formed.  The  rinks  were  at  Lily  Lake,  and  Dr. 
Donahl  was  one  of  the  keenest  of  the  players. 
Dr.  Donald  was  to  the  front  in  all  movements 
of  a  Scottish  national  character.  This  was  shown 
at  the  inception  of  the  vokinteer  militia  ortjani- 
zation  in  St.  .John,  in  1S60,  when  a  meetino;  N\as 
heUl  to  consider  the  feasibility  of  forminir  a 
Scotch  company.  Mr.  Donald  Mas  \cry  active  in 
urging  suitable  men  to  have  their  names  placed 
on  the  roll,  and  when  this  one  or  that  made 
excuses  for  keeping  aloof,  he  would  become  very 
earnest.  "You  must  join,''  he  would  say.  *'You 
are  a  man  wlv.  oan  hc'.p  the  movement,  and  y<m 
will  have  to  be  one  of  the  company."  In  this 
way  he  persuaded  into  active  mendtership  some 
who  had  gone  to  the  meeting  intending  to  be 
only  spectators.  In  a  short  time  the  conipiiny 
was  formed,  with  lion,  flolm  Robertson  as 
captain;  James  MacFarlane,  tirst  lieutenant,  and 
Archibald  Kowan,    second    lieutenant.     The  Prince 


{ 


mmt 


(iO 


*  ■ 


of  Wiilos  was  expected  to  visit  St.  John  two 
luontiis  liiter.  and  it  was  deeided  to  ask  his 
permission  to  name  the  eonipany  the  Rothesay 
Ritles,  in  honor  of  his  title  as  Didve  of  Rothesay. 
Shortly  after  this,  Afr.  Robertson  was  appointed 
colonel  of  the  St.  John  City  Lio;ht  Infantry. 
Mr.  MacFarlane  then  became  cai)tain,  and  hehl 
that  position  in  Aii<rust,  18(30,  when  the  Prince 
came  to  St.  John.  His  Royal  Highness  was 
pleased  to  accede  to  the  recpiest  of  the  company 
to  adopt  his  title  of  •"Rothesay. 


,,11 


IB 


IX. 


i 


Dr.  Donald  as  a  Freemason. —  His  Zial  in  the  WorU  of  the 
Various  IJodies. — Notsible  Kveiits  in  \\'liicii  He  Took 
Part. — Masonic  Tril)Mtes  to  His  Wdith. 

In  Autrust.  is*);").  Dr.  Donald  Ix'rainc  a  niciiiiicr 
of  tlio  Masonic  fratornity,  liis  iiiitialion  lakiiiof 
phu'o  ill  tlio  Union  Lodtj'c  of  I'orlland.  He  was 
proposed  l)y  I^obort  Marshaii.  master  of  the 
l()d,a"e.  a  incMnl)or  of  llic  Kirk  cono-roo'ation  and  a 
warni  admirer  of  the  pastor.  Mr.  Mar>liall  was  a 
very  prominent  Avorker  in  the  fraternity,  ha \i no- 
all  the  iiiii'lier  (k\L':r(!es  and  lillinof  responsihie  posi- 
tions in  the  ditl'erent  Ixxlies.  Dr.  Donald,  thoiioii 
then  a  man  of  5S.  showi'd  a>  iniich  /eal  in 
Masom.  as  a  yo'i^h  of  iM  could  liaxc  sliown.  and 
was  constant  in  his  attendance  at  the  iodo-c  nicci - 
iniJfs.  At  the  annual  election  followino-  his 
rece[)tion  he  was  appointed  i-haplain  of  the  lodofe. 
which  position  he  held  until  his  death.  The  niojit 
of  the  reo'ular  meetina*.  the  third  Thiirsday  of 
each  month,  was  a  date  for  which  he  wouhl  make 
no  other  ena'aii'enient,  and    reo-ularly  on  that  nii»ht 


62 


r 


II 


u  cojioh  was  sent  to  his  residence  to  convey  liini 
to  the  Masonic  Hall,  returninir  with  him  at  the 
close  of  the  nieetintr-  In  ;i  'n'iel'  history  of  the 
lodg^e,  hy  one  who  knew  Dr.  Donald  well,  this 
tribute  to  his  worth  is  recorded: 

"Until  sickness  overtook  him,  he  Avas  constant 
in  his  attendance  to  the  duties  of  the  fraternity: 
and  in  his  holy  ministrations  most  zealous.  He 
Avas  ofentle  and  uH'ectionate,  and  his  ligrht  shines 
that  others  may  see  his  tjood  works — the  Avidow's 
friend  and  the  orphan's  stay. 

"We  have  witnessed  the  peculiar  jdeasure  his 
t)resence  afforded  when  minu^linof  with  the 
fraternity — his  high  position  and  holy  calling- 
giy'nnr  increased  respect  and  status  to  the  Craft 
in  the  province.  We  Avould  fail  were  we  not  to 
o-ive  utterance  to  our  estimation  of  his  o^oodncss 
and  character,  and  to  record  that,  in  his  demise 
the  instituti(m  of  Freemasonry  has  ex])erienced  a 
|)rofoun(l  loss."  * 

Dr.  Donald,  in  due  time,  was  exalted  to  the 
detj:ree  of  Royal  Arch  Mason,  in  New  IVrunswick 
chapter,  was  received  into  St.  John  Council  of 
the    Cryptic     Kite     and     was     created     a     Knio-ht 


*  History  of  ilie  Union  Lo(l^,'e  of  Poriliuui. 


68 

Tcniplai'  in  DoMohiy  prcccjjton.  He  suhsc- 
(lucnlly  rccoiviMl  the  orders  of  Mjilta  and  of  Koine 
and  ( Jonstantine,  and  in  l^Hlt  \\v  \\u>  installiMl  a 
Kniii'lil  of  Hose  Croix  in  Moore  eliaijler  of  the 
Aneient  and  aeee[)1"d  Seollisli  Kite.  At  that 
period,  the  Hose  Croix  (ls"i  was  the  hiii:iiest 
de<rree  of  the  rite  eonferred  in  New  Urnnswiek. 
Moore  chapter  had  a  most  select  nieinliershi]).  in 
wiiich  such  men  as  Kev.  William  Sco\  il.  Dr.  T. 
A.  I).  Foster,  Dr.  (JeorL^e  S,  Keator,  James 
Domville,'  Kohert  iNIarshall  and  other  well 
known  citizens  took  an  active  interest. 

In  all  the  bodies  of  -which  Dr.  Donald  was  a 
memlter  he  tilled  the  olhce  of  cha|)lain  or  its 
eipiivalent  position,  lie  was  also  (irand  ('hai)lain 
of  the  Provincial  (irand  Lodiiv  of  Xcw  Uruns- 
wick,  and  of  the  same  body  when  it  l»ecame  an 
inde))endent  (irand  Loiiuc.  Tin'  tirst  publie 
exercise  of  his  functions  as  u'raiid  cha))iain  was  on 
the  (Jtli  of  September,  isi*.*!.  On  that  occasion  a 
procession  under  the  bunners  of  the  Provincial 
(irand  L()d,i>-e  was  formed  in  the  forenoon  and  the 
members  of  the  fraternity  marched  to  St. 
Andrew V  Church,    where    Dr.    Donald    prenched  a 


*  Now  Col.  Doiuvillo.  M.  I'. 


64 


scriDoii  siii1;il)l('  1()  tlic  occasion.  A  l)!iiH|iK't  Wiis 
iiivcii  :it  llic  l*;irk  Ilctlcl  in  tlic  csciiiiiijr.  In  l>i<5S 
lie  iissislcd  in  the  or^'imiztttion  of  tlic  (inuid 
Lodiic  of  Ni'W  Urun.'-wick.  and  conliniU'd  to  lio  ils 
(Inind  (  liajjlMin  luilil  liis  dcatli.  On  no  ini[)ortant 
occasion  was  lie  al»si'nl,  cxct^i)!  at  the  special 
coinmiinication  of  the  (ii'and  Lod<re  in  Septend'er, 
1^70.  when  the  Cai'leton  Masonic  Hall  v'as 
dedicated.  Al  that  tinic  he  was  sutl'erinir  from 
his    tinal    illness,    and   was    iinal)le    to    be    i)resent. 

Two  of  the  n()tal)lc  masonic  events  in  whieh 
Dv.  Donald  tooU  part  were  the  layini;  of  the 
corner  st(»ne  of  St.  Stcjdien's  Presbyterian  elmrch, 
St.  John,  on  the  'JMh  of  Jnly.  JSCd,  and  the 
laying  of  the  «'orner  stone  of  Carleton  Masonic 
Hall,  on  the  ;!(»t!i  of  July.  ls(;i».  Both  of  these 
were  nieinoraltle  occasions  in  tlu-  history  of  the 
fniternity  in  St.  J(rhn. 

At  the  annual  cominiinication  of  the  (irand 
Lodu'e.  in  Se])tend)er,  isTI.  a  touchino-  reference 
to  the  character  of  Dr.  Donald  as  a  Freemason 
was  made  by  the  (Jrand  Master.  William  \\'edd(,'r- 
biirii.  now  .Indue  ^^'edderburn.  Amonir  other 
thing's,  he  said  : 

'"  AltlKMiirh  many  may  date,  their  initiation  into 
onr     mvsteries     far     back     bevond     that     of     our 


f^ 


1 


66 

reverend  jiiid  veiioriihle  hrother.  few  luivc  eviiu'f(l 
a  deeper  or  us  enthusiastic  m  love  for  llie  Craft. 
By  the  ijuilelessness  and  ireiithMiess  of  nis  inter 
couro,  the  iinassiiinini>-  wisdom  of  liis  coiinsels. 
his  devoted  interest  in  (Jrand  Lodije,  he  made  a 
mark  ii})on  our  Masonic  history  and  hearts  which 
can  (mly  he  fora'otten  when  life  ceases.  Von,  mv 
In'otiiers  will  vividly  nnneniher  his  last  attendance 
n])()n  the  sacred  duties  of  the  (irand  ('haplaiiiry. 
His  eye  lio-hled  with  fraternal  enti'iisiasm  v.hich 
years  could  not  dim,  his  stej)  ttirned  towards  our 
altar  with  a  huoyancy  w^hich  tlic  fet^hleness  of  aire 
eoulii  not  i!n])ede;  and  yet.  even  then,  the  uTim 
hand  of  disease  was  visiljJv  upon  him.  and  the 
inexorable  messeno-ev  was  at  the  outer  <l<t()r.  I 
need  not  prolonjj;  words  upon  his  worth,  lie  who 
so  often  and  so  ;';ealously  pointed  iis  to  the  «iiirk 
valley,  and  tauo'ht  us  how  to  ai)proach  it  -  who 
kriew  so  well  ;ind  wisely  the  value  of  that 
"immortal  i)art  which  shall  surviNc  the  u'rave" — 
needs  neither  storied  urn  noi'  p(;st  humous  pi-aisc 
from  us  wIh-i  learned  of  hii...  ai.<i  no  j'ar- reaching 
fajtli  is  re(piiL'ed  to  thini%  of  him  as  eiijoyinu;-  the 
eternal  refreshnn.'nt  a.  I  !)ene(liction  of  tiie 
Celestial  JamIu-c.  " 


V. 


X. 


Df.  Dnii'il.T-  IK'alth  l'';iils  and  ;iti  .^ -sisrant  is  Clinscn. — 
I'carli  oi  IM'.  Doiialil. — 'I'in'  I'lricral  ;i  Triliiit*!  of 
<icn('ial    I'fsjict't. —  Kcstiiiji-  IMact'  in  llic  IJiiral  (  tMneti'iy. 

I)i'KiN(;  the  year  iS^iU  it  l)e('!mie  evident  tlitit 
Dr.  Donald's  litultli  and  strength  were  hocominu" 
lUKMiual  to  the  increasing  luties  of  his  position, 
and  later  a  suitable  allowance  was  made  for  an 
assistant.  On  tlie  14th  of  April.  isTo,  Dr.  Donald 
introduced  How  {•ioi)ert  fl.  Cameron  as  his 
asi^istnnt,  and  the  name  of  Mr.  Cameron  was 
added  to  the  Session  Roll.  During  the  remaining 
months  (f  the  year  I)r.  Donald's  health  began  to 
tad  very  materially,  and  it  was  evident  that  not 
only  were  his  (la\'s  of  active  labor  ended  but  that 
his  life  was  dr;nving  to  a  close.  His  nervous 
system  l)ecanie  broken  down.  Ue  had  i)een  very 
tdnd  of  exendse,  ;ind  it  was  a  severe  attliction  to 
him  to  ha\e  the  powers  of  locomotion  so  atVected 
that  he  could  walk  oidy  with  ditticulty.  Mr. 
Cameron  performed  the  ministerial  duties,  ami  on 
the  2!ind   of   .January,    isTl,    Dr.    Donald    tendered 


■i-'i^M iFf.'iig~ 


67 


his  resignation.  It  was  accepted  as  a  sad  neces- 
sity, and  Mr.  Cameron  was  elected  the  minister 
of  the  Kirk, 

Dr.  DonahTs  })hysi('ians  were  Drs.  William 
Livingstone  and  P.  K.  Inches,  l»ut  his  disease  was 
heyond  the  power  of  the  healing  art.  The 
expected  stroke  of  paralysis  came,  and  the  tinal 
summons  became  a  matter  of  days.  Dr.  Donald 
passed  away,  at  his  home  in  Pagan  Place  at  ten 
minutes  after  eight  on  the  morning  of  Monday, 
the  20th  of  Fehriiary,  1S71,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years  and  seven  months. 

Though  his  friends  had  been  prepared  for  the 
announcement  of  his  death,  their  sorrow  on 
hearing  the  tidings  was  not  the  less.  This  sorrow 
was  geiiTMi  throughout  the  comnnmity,  but  it 
was  especially  marked  among  all  classes  in  the 
Kirk  congregation.  He  had  l)een  the  friend  and 
counsellor  of  so  many  for  more  than  a  score  of 
years  that,  in  many  a  liome.  his  death  was 
regarded  in  the  light  of  a  personal  loss.  The 
newspa})ers  of  the  time,  in  the  warm  trii)utes  to 
his  worth,  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  com- 
nnmity in  general.  His  friends  were  among  all 
creeds  and  (Masses,  and  of  enemies  he  had  none. 
The    funeral     of     Dr.     Donald,    on    the    afternoon 


68 


of  'i'liursdiiy.  the  t^Urd  of  February,  was  a  notable 
cvciil  in  that  period  of  the  city's  iiistory.  It  was 
attended  !)y  a  multitude  of  eiti/ens  of  all  ranks, 
and  many  i)ai1s  of  the  j)ro\'inee  were  represented 
in  the  procession.  As  half-})ast  two,  the  hour  for 
the  services  at  the  house,  ap[)roaehed,  lara'e 
crov\ds  of  peo[de  u'athered  on  (ierniain  street  an(i 
l*a<ran  Thu'e.  where  they  waited  in  resi)ectful 
sih'nce.  Wilhin  the  darkened  house  the  family 
and  intimate  friends  were  assembled,  and  the 
scene  was  a  deei)!y  atl'eetint)-  one  as  the  last  fare- 
\\ells  were  ma<le  ere  the  casket  was  closed. 
Prayi'r  was  oll'ered  by  l\e\-.  Peter  Keay  of 
Nashwtiak.  after  which  the  procession  to  the  Kirk 
was  formed. 

A[)art  from  the  dee])  im])ressi()n  made  on  those 
to  wiiom  Dr.  Donald  was  dear  as  a  pastor  and 
Iriend.  the  occasion  \\as  one  to  be  rememl)ered 
as  a  matt<r  of  historic  interest.  As  was  remarked 
l)y  Mi'.  C'aie  in  his  address,  not  cmly  was  it 
the  tirst  funeral  of  a  minister  of  St.  Andrew's 
church  in  tiie  tifty-tive  years  of  its  history,  but 
it  was  the  lirst  funeral  of  a  Presbyterian  elcriry- 
man  in  St.  ,Iohn  and  it  was  the  tirst  time  that  a 
l)()dy  litid  l)een  borne  over  the  threshold  of  the 
Kirk. 


A\'ith 
and  g'd 
mourn  in 
been  so 
larii:e  e( 
solenui 
hundred; 

Tiie 
choir      s 
I     Thesi 
Parai)hr: 

T 
'V 
\\ 
I) 


The  1 
i)y  Rev. 
.1.  Caie 
Ilcl>rewf 
In  this  ( 
the  life 
Followii 


|i 


(i'.t 

Within  Iho  l)ui!.linL^  the  pulpit.  cliMihrl.  oio-nu 
and  izaHoiy  fronts  were  h,,,vi!y  .;.;,p(.|  '  j,, 
moiirnincr.  Xc^vvr  in  its  history  lual  1l„  ..huivh 
been  so  throno-d.  uhik"  niihont  the  .Io,m>  stood  ;i 
hirire  foncourso  iinahh'  to  o-.-iin  .'.(Inii.sion.  The 
solemn  tollincr  ot  the  I.HI  t',)iii,<|  an  cho  ui 
hundreds  of  hearts. 

The  corteo-c  havino-  entered  the  clinrch.  the 
ehoir  san.iT  the  words  of  pronjise  foiin,!  ,n 
I  Thessulonians  IV,  1.'!  to  i^s,  ;,s  ^iven  in 
Paraphrase  LIIJ  : 


i 


Take  coint'ott.  Clirisiiiiiis.   wlicu  youi    Irii ml.. 

in  Jesus  I'all  aslct^i.: 
Thfir  Iicttcr  bcinu'  never  einls; 

\Vli\'  then   (lejeelod    wceli? 
WJiy  inc()iis()Ia!»le.  as  thcjse 

to  wlioni  no  lidpe  i<  liiv'u  r 
Dcatli  is  the  inesseiiner  of  pcice. 

and  calls  Uie  -oul  u>  iieav"n. 


'I'he  sino-iiio-  of  this  was  followed  by  a  praver 
i)y  K'ev.  K.  J.  Cameron,  afti^r  which  lve\ .  (icori>c 
fl.  Caie  delivered  a  hrief  address  frou)  the  text  of 
Ilel>rews  XI.  4,  "He  hejno-  ,ioad  yet  sixakelh."" 
In  this  discourse  Mr.  Caie  ))ai(l  a  jii^t  tribute  to 
the  life  work  and  inlliience  of  tin' departed  pastor. 
Followins:  this  came  the  hymn.  ••Thoii  ait   oonc  lo 


70 


the  ofrave,'''  iifter  which  the  large  congreofation 
filed  out  of  the  editiee  and  the  procession  to  the 
cemetery  was  formed. 

First  in  order,  preceding  the  hearse,  were  tlie 
members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  without 
regalia,  including  Grand  Master  Wedderburn, 
Past  Grand  Master  B.  Lester  Peters  and  the 
officers  of  the  Grantl  Lodge.  Next  followed  the 
St.  Andrew's  Society,  and  after  it  came  lievs.  K. 
J.  Cameron,  George  J.  Caie,  P.  Melville  and 
Peter  Keay,  with  the  attending  physicians,  Drs. 
Livinjrstone  and  Inches. 

The  pallbearers,  chosen  from  the  elders,  were 
Hon.  John  Kol)ertson,  Robert  Robertson  (Indian- 
town)  \Mlliam  Girvan,  Alexander  Jardine,  John 
Wishart  and  Dr.  John  Waddell.  A  detachment 
of   the    78th   Highlanders    attended   as    an    escort. 

The  mourners  consistetl  of  Dr.  Donald's  sons, 
the  elders  of  the  Kirk,  the  members  of  the  Kirk 
Sesyion  and  clergymen  of  ^'arious  denominations. 
Among  the  latter  were  Revs.  Canon  Harrison, 
George  M.  Armstrong  and  Maurice  SAvabey,  all 
of  the  Church  of  England;  James  Bennett,  St. 
John's  Presl'/jterian  church;  Neil  McKay,  St. 
David's  church;  Joshua  Burgess,  Carleton  Presby- 
terian     church;     A.      McL.      Stavely,      Reformed 


Presbyl 
and  T. 
were    a 
funeral 
iilong  tl 
closed, 
respect 
the  Kir 

The 
green 
Cemete: 
made  1) 

The 
l)ears  tl 


Presbyterian  church,  I.  [].  r.ill.  G.  M.  \\'.  (\u-cy 
and  T.  Hurley.  IJainist.  Follow  inu-  tlic  inoiinicrs 
were  a  hirire  mimi.er  of  the  L'cncrai  |)i!i>lic.  tiic 
funeral  corteov  rcachinu'  to  a  urcnt  IciiLith.  All 
alonw  tJie  route  ot  the  i)iorcssion  the  >toi;os  were 
closed,  all  classes  joining-  in  their  tiilmte  ol 
respect  to  iuv  nieiuory  of  *Jie  beloved  i)ast()i  oi 
the  Kirk. 

The  burial  was  in  the  family  lot.  on  Ewv- 
o-reen  Path,  a  beautiful  part  of  t!.<.  Knml 
Cemetery.  The  elosiiio-  pravef  at  llu  litave  wa;> 
made  by  llev.  P.   Melville. 

The  monument  afterwar<'s  erected  on  the  lot 
))ears  the  followino-  !nscrij)ti(»n  : 

111    .McilKiiy    I't' 

TiiK  Ki:\'.   Wii.i.iA.M   [)o.\.\i.i).   1).   I)., 

foi-  22  years  iriiiii-stt-r  of 

St.  Andkf.w 's  ('iiri;eii, 

St.  Joliii.  X.  15., 

Born  .June  (Jtli,   1807, 

Diod  I'Y't).  2nili,  1S71. 


XI. 


. 


A  Memorial  IMiicod  on  Record  by  tlio  TnisHM's. — The 
Tablet  in  the  Church. — Destroyed  in  the  Fii'e  and 
Replaced  with  Imposing  Ceremonies. — Proeeeilings  and 
Addresses  at  the  Unveiling. 

TiiK  death  of  Dr.  Donald  was  deplored  by  all 
classes,  but  above  all  by  the  eonoreiJfation  of  the 
Kirk.  At  a  subse((uent  ineetino;  of  the  trustees  a 
committee,  consistino"  of  Rev.  R.  J.  Cameron,  Dr. 
John  Waddeli  and  INIatthew  Lindsay,  was 
appointed  to  preptire  and  place  on  record  a 
suitable  memorial  ex[)ressive  of  the  feelino's  of 
the  conofi-eo'tttion  towards  their  late  pastor.  The 
report  of  these  geritlemen  was  as  follows: 

"'Voiir  committee,  in  drawino-  up  a  memorial 
in  acknowled<rment  of  the  faithful  services  of  the 
late  Rev.  William  Donald,  D.  D.,  as  minister  of 
St.  Andrew's  church  and  congreii'ation,  desire  to 
o-i\e  expression  to  tli(>  a'reat  feelino's  of  respect 
and  veneration  which  were  cherished  towards  him 
during  the  period  of  his  ministry  in  this  city. 
Durino;  the    \\\o  and    twenty   years    which    it    was 


7a 


his  lot  to  labor  in  this  . ornor  of  his  Master's 
vineyard,  it  is  not  too  much  to  sn.v  llial  a  cluiin 
of  associations  hound  him  :ind  his  j)Coi)le  toavtlicr, 
which  was  not  to  he  easily  liroken.  We  arc  now 
niourninir  his  loss,  not  merely  as  a  laborer  in  the 
ministry  of  tlie  (iosi)el,  but  as  ;i  kind  and  inti- 
mate friend.  lie  was  to  us  and  the  members  of 
this  church  a  faithful  minister  of  Christ.  From 
the  puljjit,  Avith  marked  intellectual  v  i^or,  he 
preached  the  Wcml  of  the  living-  (Jod.  J  lis  \()ice 
was  ever  (lirectin«-  the  minds  and  thouirhls  of  his 
l)((>[)Ie  heavenward.  He  always  spoke  for  their 
A\arnino-,  their  reconciliation  to  (io<l  Ihroniili 
Jesus,  and  thus  for  their  comfort  and  peace.  Ik- 
was  tender  and  sym[)athetic  in  his  feelings, 
which  often  broke  throui>"!i  their  barriers  and 
poured  forth  in  Hoods  of  emotion  whicli  could  not 
be  controlled,  lie  deliii'hted  in  visit jnii'  the  poor. 
the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  to  enter  many  a 
door  darkened  l)y  miseries  oi  the  world,  to  hear 
man.y  a  heartrending!;  tale  of  sutlcritiir  and  to  calm 
the  aii'itation  of  such  domestic  sorrow.  His 
delio-lit  was  to  xisit  the  sick,  the  weak,  the 
infirm-  -to  nunister  to  d\ini>'  saint  and  sinner  such 
consolation  and  conifort  as  the  Word  of  (iod 
could  jrive.      It  is  of  these    faithful   labors  that    we 


have  1)0(11  deprived,  and  of  which  we  are 
mourn iiio"  the  h)ss. 

"  liy  the  ministry  and  mem))ers  of  all  branches 
of  tlie  ciiric^tian  church  in  this  city  and  country, 
where  lie  was  known,  Dr.  Donald  was  much 
heloved,  and  as  a  member  of  society  he  was  much 
respected,  and  esteemed,  for  he  was  ever  kind 
and  jjfenial  in  his  manner. 

"  As  the  Kirk  Session  of  the  church  in  con- 
ne<;tion  witii  which  Dr.  Donald  was  so  lon^ 
associated,  we  desire  to  convey  to  his  bereaved 
and  niournino;  widow  and  family  our  heartfelt 
sympathy  for  them  in  their  deep  affliction.  Our 
earnest  prayer  to  the  (rod  of  the  widow  and  the 
fatherless  is  that  he  may  <i"ive  them  consolation, 
that  He  may  bless  them  and  cause  His  face  to 
shine  upon  them. '"' 

Two  memorial  tablets  had  adorned  the  walls  of 
the  interior  of  the  church  for  many  years,  to 
honor  the  names  of  two  of  the  founders.  One 
was  to  the  memory  of  William  Pagan,  a  promi- 
nent old-time  merchant  and  member  of  the 
legislature,  and  the  other  to  the  memory  of 
William  Campbell,  who  had  been  mayor  of  St. 
John  at  the  time  the  Kirk  was  Ijuilt.  A  third, 
commemoratino;  the  life  and  labors  of  Dr.  Donald, 


i 


H) 


"> 


WHS  placed  on  the  wmII  in  Mnrdi.  \s7:>,.  When 
the  Kirk  was  burned,  in  ihe  lire  oi'  |s77,  these 
tnhlets  were  destroyed,  ;is  wciv  the  oil  portraits 
of  Dr.  I'lurns  and  Dr.  Donald,  which  h;u|  Uumr 
in  the  vestry.  With  the  exception  of  the  few 
artieles  previously  mentioned  ;is  h:i\in<:-  l>een 
saved,  the  destruction  on  that  day  was  swift  and 
eoinplete.  Kven  the  l)ell  was  incited  and  utterly 
disai)peared,  only  the  iron  tonn'ue  reniaininu-  a>  an 
evidence  of  its  fate. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  isss.  the 
niendiers  of  the  Union  Loduo  of  Portland,  F.  c<: 
A.  M.,  of  which  Dr.  Donald  had  heen  a  nieinher. 
determined  to  erect  another  tablet  to  his  memory, 
in  the  new  St.  Andrew's  church.  The  ceremonial 
of  unveilin<r  took  place  on  the  evening-  of  the 
24th  of  January,  18S1>,  the  editice  bein»2:  crowded 
to  the  doors.  The  seats  in  the  centre  of  the 
ehurcii  were  occu])ie(l  by  the  members  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  On  the  platform  were  a 
number  of  eleroymen  and  prominent  Masons. 
The  ta])let,  which  was  i)laced  at  the  south  side  of 
the  pulpit,  was  of  white  marble,  with  a  raised 
sliield  on  a  frosted  irroundwork.  At  the  four 
corners  were  the  Masonic  emldenis  of  the  s({uare 
and  compasses,  plumb   and  rule,  roufjh  ashlar  and 


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23  WESl  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  I4SS0 

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perfect    jishhir.     The    insc-ri[)ti()n,    in    <r()l<l    letters, 
wjis  us  follows : 

by  Tht!  luion  I.od.m'  i>l'  I'orthiiKl, 

l'.    .V    A.    M., 

in  Memory  of  their  hitc  Cliaplain. 

Rev,  Wii.i.iA.M   DoNAi.i),  1).  I)., 

Minister  of  tliis  Church  for  22  years', 

who  (lied  February   20th,  1871, 

Atfed  1)3  years. 

The  eeremonijil  was  of  eonsidenihle  leiifi^th,  and 
only  a  few  features  of  the  exercises  can  be  men- 
tioned here.  The  o[)eirm,ir  prayer  was  hy  He  v. 
li.  (i.  McNeill,  pastor  of  8t.  Andrew's  church, 
and  in  the  course  of  it  he  said: 

"We  thank  thee  that  we  in  this  conirrejration 
are  to-niohl  reminded  of  thy  o:reat  love  to  us  in 
thy  raisinir  up  <>f  "len — devotional  men-  to  pro- 
claim thy  blessed  truth  to  us  from  day  to  day 
and  week  to  week.  We  are  certainly  reminded 
to-nio'ht  by  the  i-ircumstances  under  which  we  are 
assembled,  of  thy  jxift  to  us.  in  the  years  jrone 
by,  of  sio'ually  devoted  and  faithful  men  and 
l)astors  of  this  church.  Oh,  our  Father,  we  thank 
thee  for  the  oift  ih(»u  didst  ""rant  unto  us  of  our 
late  pastor.  Dr.  Donald.  We  thank  thee  for  his 
pure  private  life;  for  his  public  life  of  benevo- 
lence  and    philanthropy,    and    for    all  the  jjood  he 


77 


WMs  enabled  to  :u'c'()ini)lish.  We  thank  thee  for 
the  influence  he  wielded  in  the  wiiminir  and 
keepinjr  ol'  th--'  h)ve  and  alt'ectioii,  not  oidy  of  this 
ehiireh  an<l  eonfriViration.  l>iit  of  this  wlioh' 
eoniniMnity.  We  render  thanks  :ind  [)raise  thee 
that  tile  nieniory  of  his  benevolence,  faithfulness 
and  devotion,  have  lin<rered  in  the  hearts  of  the 
l)eoj)le.  We  thank  thee  that  the  circunistanees 
which  iiave  Iiroii«:ht  us  to,i>-ether  are  tilted  In 
remind  us  that  there  is  a  nieniorial  of  his 
intluence  erected  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  that 
will  lin<rer  lon^  after  marble  and  irranite  have 
(•rumbled  away.  We  thank  thee  for  the  faithful 
record  of  his  love,  and  we  pray  that  the  memory 
of  his  pure,  devoted  life  may  be  more  and  more 
exemplified  in  our  lives." 

After  Psalm  ('XX  XI 1 1  had  l)een  chanted  by  a 
selected  (luartette.  Mr.  William  A.  MacLauchlan. 
Worshij)ful  Master  of  the  Tnion  LodL^'e  of  I'orl 
land,  addressed  Dr.  I*.  H.  Inclie>.  chairman  of  the 
I)Oard  of  Trustees  of  the  church,  and  formally 
presented  the  tablet.  It  was.  he  said,  erected  to 
the  memory  of  Dr.  Donald,  as  a  tril»ute  of  esteem 
for  him  as  a   mason  and  a  man. 

The    taldel     was     then     luivcilcd.      Dr.      Inches 
aceeptin*):     it      and      makin<r      a     suitable      reply. 


I 


7S 


'^Kememher  now  thy  creator ""  was  cluintod  by  the 
choir.  Then  followed  an  address  l)y  Mr.  B. 
Lester  Peters,  senior  Past  (irand  Master  of  the 
Grand  Lodije  of  Freemasons  of  New  Hrunswiek. 
Mr.  Peters  referred  in  tittinjj;  huiiruacfe  to  the 
Masonic  character  and  career  of  Dr.  Donald,  an<l 
to  the  pleasure  his  presence  «rave  on  occasions  of 
note  durinsr  his  connection  with  the  fraternity. 
In  conchidinir,  he  said: 

"The  advantages  which  the  fraternity  enjoyed 
under  his  instructions  Avere  not,  unhapi)ily  for  us, 
to  continue  as  long  as  we  had  hoped.  Early  in 
the  year  isTl,  our  venerated  and  Iteloved  l)rother 
was  called  hy  his  Divine  Master  from  his  labors 
of  love  in  this  terrestial  lodge.  His  memory  is 
eml)almed  in  our  hearts,  his  prece})ts  and  example 
live  for  our  instruction.  His  mother  lodge  erects 
here  a  tablet  in  his  honor,  that  his  name  and 
work  may  be  remembered  through  succeeding 
generations  when  all  those  wlio  delighted  in  his 
personal  fellowship  have,  in  the  order  of  nature, 
gone  to  'that  undiscovered  country,  from  whose 
bourn  no  traveller  returns." 

"It  is  not  in  sorrow  that  we  meet  to-(lay,  l»ut 
with  the  joy  of  Christian  hope.  And  as  we  muse 
on    the     life     of    our     Iteloved     brother     for     our 


79 

encouraarcnicnt  in  sfood  works,  we  acknowledo-o 
that  he  roalized  to  us  the  piclurc  of  ;i  Christiun 
pastor  drawn  hy  the  poet;  and  iviiioinherinir  his 
Avarns  heart,  moved  \yy  the  troiiMes  and  sorrows 
of  others  around  him  that  it  w:is  his  diiilv  efl'ort 
to  relieve:  and,  witiial,  his  firm  f:nth  which  lifted 
his  head  in  ealni  confidence  to  rely  on  the  sure 
promises  of  (lod,  we  tidnk  of  the  api)ropriMteness 
to  him,  while  amon*!  us,  of  the  closiiiir  iiua<rery 
with  which  the  description  of  the  poet  is  adorned  : 

"  '  As  some  lall  clilVthat  lilts  irs  iiwriii  ronii. 
Swells  from  tin;  vah"  uml  mi(hv;iy  Iravcs  thr  stnnii. 
'I'lio'  roiiinl  its  hreast  the  rolJini;  cIoikIs  an'  -pn-ad. 
Eternal  sniishiiie  settles  on  its  lieinl."  " 

Followino;  the  address  by  Mr.   l*eters,  came  the 
sinirintr  of  the  paraphrase — 

'•()  tioil  of  Hetliel.  liv  winise  liaml 


Tliy  peoplt!  <till  are  I'e 


!  . 


and  this  was  followed  by  an  address  by  Kev. 
Donald  Macrae,  I).  I).,  pastor  of  St.  Stephen's 
church  and  Past  (irand  Chaplain  of  the  (irand 
Lodii'c.  Dr.  Macrae,  referrno;  to  the  fact  that  he 
had  come  to  St.  John  at  a  later  period  than  thai 
covered  by  the  lonir  ministry  of  Dr.  Donald, 
pointed  out  that  they  had  l»ecn  students  at  the 
same    universitv,    and    that     both     were     ordained 


so 


ministers  of  llio   Cliurcli   of   Scotland.     Continuinj; 

he  said  : 

•'Fortv  years  aL^'o.    llie    Rev.    William    DonaM, 
a    native   of    IJanll'sliii-e,    Scolland,    heeame   a    resi- 
dent of  this  city,  a  man  in    the   fidl   viiror  <>f  life. 
a      pastor      elect      of      this      conu-reiralion,      then 
nun)l>erinu-  amonu'  its    members    not    a    few    of   the 
most  inlliiential  eiti/ens   of   St.   John.     Durinyf  the 
siieceedinu-    twenty-one    years,      he      pursued      the 
career    (d    an     active    and     devoted     Presbyterian 
minister,  jrrowiiiir  in    inlliienee   as    he  altoiinde<l    in 
usefulness,     uniil    the   day,    in    1S71,    of  his    some- 
what   su<lden    and    widely    lamented    death.       And 
now.  eiii'hteen  years  after   hi>  departure,  and  after 
the    de])arture    or    seatterinjj:   of   the    majority    of 
those    with    whom    in    his  day   he   took    counsel— 
whom    he   advised,    instructed,    warned,    exhorted, 
comforted-    hi-    memoiy   is   still    fraLn'ant,    and  his 
character  is  .-till  held  worthy  of  Iteiiia'  emlila/oned 
as  you  have  enihla/.oued  it  to-niofht. '" 

Speakinu-  from  his  own  knowledoe  ;ind  from 
what  he  had  been  told  i»y  others,  rejrar;linu'  some 
of  the  characteristics  of    Dr.    Donald.    Dr.    Macrae 

said : 

"  It  was  impossible  to  avoid  beino-  struck,  at 
the     first     introduction,     by    his    air     of     natural. 


81 


iirmrtVrtc'l  (li<.niily.  It  was  a  diiriiity,  one  very 
soon  discovered,  Ix'L^olteii  ot  i\  liiirh-souled.  sino-le- 
v\■(.'^\  dcNolion  1(»  his  work:  of  a  worthy  coneeptioii 
of  the  character  of  his  work  as  a  Christian 
minister.  For.  iiiideriyiii,!>-  this  unconscious  air  of 
ditrnity.  it  was  speedily  a|)|>;'.rent,  was  a  kin<hiess 
o<|Ually  iinatfected,  and  which  not  only  swiftly 
came  to  the  siirfa<'e.  I»iit  overflowed  ir)  every  act 
and  utterance  of  the  man." 

The  speaker,  after  a  reference  to  the  schohirly 
character  of  Dr.  Donald  and  to  the  deep  interest 
he  ha<l  taken  in  the  sclioois.  proceeded  to  olance 
at   his  traits  as  a  i)reaciier  and  pastor. 

•'Men  m(.re  irifled  in  this  or  that  respect  you 
may  have  heard,  no  douitt.  l)Ut  never  a  man  more 
sincere  or  earnest  in  his  manner  of  presentinii" 
these  verities,  never  a  man  more  free  from 
vulii'arily.  extra  vair'ance.  assumption,  sensation- 
alism all  that  stamps  the  charlatan  whose  aim  is 
almost  assure* ily  [)ersonal  popularity. 

"Ahove  all.  Dr.  Donald  excelle<l  in  his 
l»astoral  ministrations.  In  these,  emi)hatica.lly,  he 
was  al)undant  ahove  measure:  and  what  rendered 
them  so  pec(diarly  acceptable  was-  his  irentleness 
and  christian  charity-  lei  me  add,  his  fearlessness, 
evinced     durino-     the     visitation     of     the     choJei'a. 


^ 


sy 


VoiiiiL''  mikI  o1<I  \vc'lc(>!n('<l  liiiii  tis  :i  pastor:  llieiv 
sire  iiu'ii  of  luiiMlc  :i«:v  in  tlii>  <-oiiiiuiniil y  who 
still  speak  of  llu-  l)o«'toi''s  i<iii(lly  ways  as  he 
patted  tliem  on  the  head  in  their  ehildliood  and 
hreathed  a  word  of  counsel:  nor  eoidd  the  tenderest 
of  women  l>e  ni(;ie  sympathetic  towards  the 
sullerinu-.  more  eomfortintr  to  the  sorrowin<r  and 
the  bereaved.  Never,  let  me  add,  did  pastor 
hihor  more  earnestly  or  successfully  to  enforce 
the  spirit  of  duty,  to  elicit  the  christian  o-mces  at 

lar^e."* 

The   address    of     Dr.     Macrae    further    ])ointed 
out  that   with    all    Dr.    Donald's   attachment  to  the 
church  of  his  fathers,  there   Avas  no  hiootry  in  his 
nature.     Reference     was     made     to    some     of     his 
works,    such    as   the    mission    at    Kothesay.    and    to 
his    wisdom   and    ahility   as    shown    at    the    various 
church    courts.     He    had    lieen    identilied  with    no 
o-reat  i)ul.lic  measures,  hut    what   was    Letter,  with 
countless      acts      of      benevolence      and      patient, 
persistent    and    cheerful   doino-    from   day   to   day. 
"To    the    poor,   his   charity    was   simply    unre- 
mittinjr.      Amonjr    the    rich,     he     made     felt     the 
presence   of   the   christian    scholar:    he  commanded 
the    respect    justly   due   to  the   oftice   of   one  who, 
while  lie  never   assumed   to    be   more,  could  never 


VI 


bi 
h< 

S( 


s:', 


r 

11 


|„.    U^ss    tlKin   the  .l.ristian   ininistor.      In  IIk-  pros- 
,K.,i1v  of  Lis  pcci.U'   iH'    ivjo-u-CMl:    in  their  s,.n-«.ws- 
1,,.  ,nin-lo.l    in   1Ik«   spirit   of   one    who    nuulo  thnr 

sorrows  his  own." 

'llu.  .U.oplv  interestinjf  service  was  eonelude.l 
l,v  the  sinking  of  the  Doxoh.-y  and  hene.lietion 
l,v   Kev.   L.  (i.   MeNeill. 


f 


I 
II 


In    half   a    eentury,  the   eity    of   St.    John    has 
rhancrod  beyond  the  <lrean.s  of  thv  men  of  the  day 
^vho"^veleon.ed    the    ehuvehV     new     pasti,r     Iron. 
Iliintly.     The  popuhition   lias  douhle.l,  the  jrreater 
portion    of   the   eity    has    l>een    rehuilt.   the   phiin, 
old-fashlone<l  eluuvh  itself  is  hut  a  memory.      1  he 
former    -eneratiou    has    passed    away,    new    faces 
have     taken     the     plaee     of     the     .M     and     n.ore 
advaneed    i<leaB    are    found    in   all    lines   of    wc»rk 
Little  remains  as   it  was.     Mueh  that  once  seemc.! 
of  areat  import   has   passed   into   oWlivion.      l)ee<l. 
that    were   .Icemed   o-reat   are   scarce   recalle.l.   and 
the  names  of  those  who    lal.orcd  for  humanity  are 
tcH,    conunonly    forgotten.      In    this   age   of   steam 
and    electricity,    when    events    crow<l     upon    eacM 
other     so     rapidly,     few     men     c-an    hope     to     he 


/ 


^4 

iriiK'iiilK'ird  for  lono'  niter  tljcy  liiivc  passed 
away,  and  one  whose  iiiemory  eonlinues  lo  )>e 
honored  for  more  than  a  (|uarter  of  a  cenlury 
after  he  has  Iteen  called  from  earth  must  I)e 
ranked  as  having-  been  preeminently  a  man  anionL' 
men.  Only  here  and  there  are  some  smli  as 
these,  some  whose  memory  is  elierished  l»y  iho.-^e 
who  knew  them,  ;nid  the  story  of  whose  [)ersonal 
virtues  will  l»e  handed  down  in  tradition,  from 
father  to  son,  in  one  generation  after  another.  So 
it  has  Iteen.  so  it  is  and  <u  it  will  he,  with  the 
story  of  Dr.  Donald  and  his  pastorate  of  the 
Kirk.  It  is  a  livin*;-  theme  to-day,  and  siieh  it 
will  eontinue  to  he  when  we  who  are  of  th(> 
l)resent  shall  have  niinu;led  with  the  multitude  of 
those  who  ha\e  passed  away. 

" 'I'lic  iiirmi>ry  of  tlic  jii<;t  i-  Itlessi-il." 


MOi.ir.F.  .  rAiiON-i.i'V  c     ^'■-O'.^ffejtM^  iTur.---,  Mont:.'  .  / 


s 


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